Yesterday morning, we celebrated the opening of the completed Löwenbrücke, after the bridge elements had been lifted into place and the newly bronze-coated lions positioned in May.
Originally built in 1838 and listed as a historic monument, the pedestrian bridge has a long history and is particularly memorable for its unique construction: a timber truss structure held in place by suspension cables anchored in the lions’ mouths. Dismantled in 2014 due to structural damage, the bridge had to be rebuilt, with only the lion sculptures and the foundations remaining in their original form. sbp was responsible for the planning and structural engineering of the restoration and renovation of the bridge.
The reconstructed timber and cable structure follows the historic construction as closely as possible. Special timber with high resistance to decomposition and stainless steel cables were used for increased durability. The colors and materials were selected in close cooperation with the historic preservation authorities to resemble the original appearance. The cast iron lion sculptures as part of the original bridge structure were in good shape and only had to be renovated.
We would like to thank everyone involved and are delighted that this landmark has finally been able to return to its original location. We are proud to see the bridge back in operation!
