Elbow Shadow Bridge

Project Details

Project Description

FROM THE ARCHITECTS:

In April and May Danube becomes murky and the currents are very strong, slowing down the currents of irrigation hydro system Danube – Tisa – Danube ( DTD canals ). The ‘Spring Festival of Confluence’ does not leave anyone indifferent, neither man nor the concept of the future bridge. That’s where the underlined eccentricity of the concept comes from.

Within that area the dialog takes place between two equally poetic extremes. From west to east impressive labor achievements of DTD with industrial zone on it’s shores and untouched – healing landscapes of the most important European River.

‘Elbow Shadow’ phrase subtly communicates the meaning of the concept and is deeply rooted in the tradition and mentality of the Vojvodina flatlands.

The concept of multifunctional bridge is well known. Ponte Vecio, Rialto Bridge, Covered Bridge – Lovech and this year’s Jishoy Art Museum China or the Bridge House in the Russian forest are divided by centuries and technologies available and used. The one thing they all have in common is the central, longitudinal axis of the construction.
This concept here in Novi Sad is overshadowed by Petrovaradin Fortress and in even deeper shadow of the waters under it.

Through the waterways of Port of Novi Sad, waters from the western wing of the irrigation hydro system Dunav – Tisa – Dunav ( DTD chanals ) enter the mighty Danube’s Petrovaradin bend. In April and May Danube becomes murky and the currents are very strong. The confluence of these waters creates what could be called a ‘Spring Festival of Confluence’.

At the same time another poetic dialog takes place – between industrial aesthetics of the port and landscapes of Danube’s shores crowned with Petrovaradin Fortress.

Eccentricity of the concept surely is the direct – morphological consequence of the slow but steady currents of the DTD canal. The main axis of the bridge is pushed downstream by 30m with the aim to change the status of the static, centric observer to the status of eccentric, forward leaning observer. It’s western shadow reaches the edges of still murky Danube waters.

‘Elbow Shadow’ subtly communicates the meaning and the actual result of the concept.

The phrase ‘Elbow Shadow’ in based on two old traditions typical for Vojvodina region:
- ELBOW HOUSE - traditional symbol of wealth in Vojvodina – house on the corner of two streets with two gates.
- CUBIT - ancient unit of length based on the length of the forearm (48.5cm or longer 51.8cm). In Vojvodina it was in use during Austro-Hungarian rule and the last to disappear was ‘Builder’s Cubit’.
- The Elbow Confluence on the opposite end of DTD hydro system is located some 180km downstream. Danube is second longest European river. Overall length of the DTD hydro system is 930km. 130 million cubic meters were excavated. It took 180 million for Panama Canal.

The construction system applied resembles the old Varadin Bridge destroyed in bombing raids in 1999. As opposed to Zezelj Bridge it wasn’t reconstructed to it’s old design in spite the fact that it was dearer to the people of Novi Sad.

PROGRAM

The current Detailed Regulation Plan was used as the guidance for the competition program allocating modest area of the 4000m2 for the office – hotel capacities on the land and the pedestrian – cyclist and Infrastructure Bridge with the span of 200m and 6m wide.

Merging those commercial and infrastructural programs into single structure with the underlined exclusivity provided for the extra 50% usable area. So it is now 6000m2 instead of 4000m2.

The steel lattice with it’s main span of 80m and the height of 10m enables for another level with 2500m2. The total width of 12m provides for the choice in using that level comfortably for offices and hotel equally. The great flexibility of the steel lattice is improved further with the use of pre-fab partitions and façade panels.

Clearance height for the waterway determined the overall height of the bridge at 8m from the shores of the canal which are raised to the levels required for the flood defense. Spiral ramps on both sides were the only way to reach the height of the bridge in the way that is confortable for pedestrians and cyclists.

The vortex of unclimatized ramps pass trough climatized exclusive hall on one side and climatized fitness on the other are the main motif of the concept.

The total of the 200m of this infrastructure route becomes catering / shopping street overlooking the Danube waterway for miles downstream. This privilege is enjoyed also on the upper level 5m above in both program options of the office or hotel.

Infrastructural routes of telecommunications, gas, water, heating water and sewage, together with people passing through the construction frames and bridge the waters of the canal. Both vertical and horizontal segments expose that movement that is felt in the cozy atmosphere of café and reception.

Project Credits:
Project: Elbow Shadow Bridge
Architects: ARCVS, Belgrade. Branislav Redžić, Dragan Ivanović, Zoran Milovanović, Dušan Milošev, Milica Tasić, Nevenka Redžić
Structural design: Sreto Kuzmanović
Consultant: Vanja Vukadinović Đurić