With the construction of two new bridges across the Rhine, the City of Cologne aims to complete the so-called “Kölner Ringe” and take a significant step toward a more sustainable and future-oriented mobility infrastructure.
Our design for the northern bridge at the Bastei creates a green, barrier-free connection for pedestrians and cyclists between the left and right banks of the Rhine, linking adjacent neighborhoods and park areas. The bridge forms a fine-grained, landscape-integrated network of urban mobility and complements the ensemble of Cologne’s historic Rhine bridges with a contemporary, lightweight structure designed without requirements for motorized or rail traffic.
The bridge is conceived as an ultra-slim network arch – an efficient structural system with minimal material usage and low arch rise. Its transparent form integrates sensitively into the listed landscape of the Rheinpark.
Architecturally, the bridge draws inspiration from the motion of a skipping stone across water. Two asymmetrical spans trace the stone’s trajectory: a long arch leaps from the left bank into the river, lightly “touches” the water near the opposite shore, and lands with a smaller hop on the right bank.
Along its length, the bridge offers high-quality public spaces with new views of the Rhine, the old town, and the Cologne Cathedral. Delicate arches, slender steel columns, and discreetly designed ramps form a cohesive and elegant structure – a light, future-forward landmark for sustainable urban mobility.
