Simple Bridges

Many famous footbridges have a spectacular, eye-catching design or functionality. They feature extravagant structures, large spans or outstanding locations and they are globally published and widely discussed amongst professionals and laymen.

But – there are smaller and simpler bridges, whose good and appropriate design, structural behaviour and sustainability only appear at the second look. Although not having viewy features they are beautiful, reasonable, efficient, sometimes trendsetting but always interesting enough to justify careful attention.

The paper presents five bridges designed by schlaich bergermann and partners finished within the last years that are characterized especially by their apparent simplicity: a simple beam bridge in Backnang, three arch bridges in Dortmund, a prestressed concrete beam bridge in Hamburg, a two-span stress ribbon bridge in Schwäbisch-Gmünd and a fixed-end beam bridge in Esslingen.

All of these bridges show the desire for a simple appearance, an efficient structural behaviour, careful detailing and a sustainable construction. The combination of which leads to the superior goal: finding an appropriate and self-evident solution for each particular situation.