Crystalline Footbridges Dejvice, Prague Structures, Czech Republic Architecture Projects Photos

Crystalline Footbridges in Prague

15 Oct 2020

Design: ov – a

Location: Studentská street, Prague, Dejvice, Czech Republic

Connecting Crystalline Footbridges UCT Prague

Crystalline Footbridges Prague

Photos by BoysPlayNice

Crystalline Footbridges

The two pedestrian bridges respect the exact location of the originally planned connection of the two buildings designed by their author, the architect Antonín Engel from 1936. He proposed to build two massive brick bridges supported by arcs and pillars, but his vision was never entirely fulfilled.

In 2017, the University of Chemistry and Technology held an invited architectural competition for the design of the current bridges in order to complete the original idea and connect the two ICT buildings into.

Crystalline Footbridges Prague

The buildings are connected by light glass bridges of a crystalline shape. The three-dimensional grid of steel pipes acts as a tension between the old buildings. The grid connects a rectangle with a hexagon, which refers to the world of organic chemistry – the benzene nucleus.

Crystalline Footbridges Prague Crystalline Footbridges Prague

The crystalline appearance of the connecting bridges carries the sculptural quality and lightness that complements the two existing solid classicizing buildings. Both the almost transparent bridges are seemingly floating above the 24 meters wide public street beneath them as their supporting concrete columns are entirely hidden underneath the historical façades of the CTU building. The glazed crystals become a new brand of the ICT, they show the dynamic inner world of the Czech leading chemical-technological university.

Crystalline Footbridges Prague

The bridge structure of both the footbridges consists of a simple girder placed on two reinforced concrete pillars, which are attached to the existing buildings and hidden under their facades. The pillars are based at the base of the buildings on a foundation distribution board supported by micro-piles.

Crystalline Footbridges Prague

The diagonals of the steel structure serve as a strut and tie rods and thus help to lift the central section of the bridge. The construction is glazed from the exterior with thermal insulation double glazing with a sealed joint. The full ceiling of the footbridge strengthens the structure and prevents excessive overheating. The floor with a concrete layer dampens the vibration of the structure. The footbridges are closed by automatic glass doors.

Czech architectural design by ov – a Czech Republic architecture design by ov – a

The steel structure of the footbridge was brought to the site in one piece as an excessive load. During the transport, it was necessary to lift the tram trolleys. At night, tram traffic on Evropská Street was interrupted. After transport to the site, the structure was mounted on a support in a few hours by a mobile crane with a load capacity of 40 tons.

Crystalline Footbridges Prague

Crystalline Footbridges in Prague, Czech Republic – Building Information

Architects: ov – a

Authors: Jiří Opočenský, principal architect + Štěpán Valouch, principal architect

Client: University of Chemistry and Technology, Technická 5, 166 28 Prague 6 – Dejvice

Project location: Studentská street, Prague – Dejvice, Czech Republic

Completion year: 2020
Built-up Area: 205 sqm
Gross Floor Area: 205 sqm
Usable Floor Area: 110 sqm

Collaborators:
Design team: David Balajka, Romana Bedrunková, Magdaléna Havlová, Antonín Pokorný, Anna Schneiderová
Construction: Jan Blažek / V-CON

Crystalline Footbridges Prague

Photographer: BoysPlayNice

Crystalline Footbridges, Prague images / information received 151020 from ov – a

Location: Studentská street, Prague, Dejvice, Czech Republic, central eastern Europe

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