Glass-Encased Austrian Suspension Bridge Encourages Public Transportation

Posted By Lori Zimmer On September 30, 2011 @ 3:36 pm In Architecture,carousel showcase,gallery | 1 Comment

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The world’s first fully glazed suspension bridge recently rose in Vienna, where it connects the Lugner City Shopping Center ^[6] with the street below. The clear glass bridge was designed by architecture duo Bulant & Wailzer ^[7] for the city's busy downtown area. The transparent structure becomes a visual treat at night, when it is illuminated with neon colors to emulate the traffic outside.

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The Lugner Bridge rises from the Otto Wagner metro station and hovers above the avenue, connecting pedestrians to the shopping and sports complex ^[9] above. The escalator from the street stretches to the bridge at an odd, trapezoidal angle, extending over traffic at the top. The space connecting the bridge to the escalator holds a small café that extends into the bridge, affording guests an interesting view through the floor to the street below.

The bridge itself seems to float ^[10], as it is suspended by two cables that are secured to adjacent buildings instead of traditional pillars. The geometric shape of the tunnel is reinforced with thin steel rods, creating a trapezoidal framework that skews the visitor’s perspective as they pass through the space. During the day, the double-glazed glass skin allows the bridge and café to be entirely lit by natural lighting. The glazing blocks solar gain ^[11], ensuring a comfortable temperature inside. At night, the bridge is illuminated with blue lights.

The glazed bridge, which connects pedestrians with the subway, is part of a Viennese program to revitalize the heavily trafficked area ^[12], while cutting car emissions by encouraging both pedestrian traffic and public transportation.

+ Bulant & Wailzer ^[7]

Via Architizer ^[13]

 

 

Article printed from Inhabitat – Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building: http://inhabitat.com

URL to article: http://inhabitat.com/glass-encased-austrian-suspension-bridge-encourages-public-transportation/

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[3] Email: mailto:?subject=http://inhabitat.com/glass-encased-austrian-suspension-bridge-encourages-public-transportation/

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[5]  : http://inhabitat.com/glass-encased-austrian-suspension-bridge-encourages-public-transportation/bulant-wailzer-lugner2/?extend=1

[6] Lugner City Shopping Center: http://www.lugner.at/

[7] Bulant & Wailzer: http://www.austria-architects.com/de/bulant_wailzer/de/

[8] Image: http://inhabitat.com/glass-encased-austrian-suspension-bridge-encourages-public-transportation/bulant-wailzer-lugner2/

[9] connecting pedestrians to the shopping and sports complex: http://inhabitat.com/swooping-green-land-bridge-design-turns-abandoned-taiwan-railway-into-a-lively-hub/

[10] The bridge itself seems to float: http://inhabitat.com/telok-blangah-hill-park’s-flying-infrastructure-in-the-sky/

[11] glazing blocks solar gain: http://inhabitat.com/schmidt-hammer-lassen-completes-this-shimmering-sustainable-building-in-copenhagen/

[12] revitalize the heavily trafficked area: http://inhabitat.com/mexico-city-will-get-its-own-greenery-filled-high-line-park-in-2012/

[13] Architizer: http://www.architizer.com/en_us/projects/view/lugner-bridge/29849/

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