A Proposal for the Nibelung Bridge

When it was decided to replace the existing Nibelung Bridge over the Danube River in Regensburg, Germany, the prominence of the site and the proximity to a gothic cathedral and an ancient stone bridge prompted city authorities to solicit design options through an international competition. The bridge that our team proposed did not win the competition, but it certainly provoked lively reactions among the members of the jury and the population of Regensburg. With this paper we would like to briefly describe the bridge project and discuss the basic principles that guided the design process. Although the bridge will not be built, its design has been a significant event for all concerned, especially because of the close and productive collaboration between engineer and architect.