architect marchisciana saverio adriano unveils his proposal for the ‘scylla and charybdis’ bridge to form a connecting structure between sicily and southern italy. differentiating itself from other engineering-based projects, the artistic design intends to evoke associations with the cultural and mythological mediterranean tradition, while interacting closely with the natural surroundings. 

the scylla and charybdis bridge the longest bridge in the world by marchisciana saverio adriano architect 2
view of the bridge from the village of ganzirri
all images courtesy of marchisciana saverio adriano

 

 

as a starting point to create the proposal, marchisciana saverio adriano began doing research on mediterranean mythology. ‘I examined the fantastic tales about this evocative place that were told by the ancient greeks’ the architect shares. ‘they believed that two enormous sea monsters lived here, ‘scylla’ and ‘charybdis’; creatures that tormented navigators and endangered them as they navigated through the strait of messina’. as homer narrates in the odyssey, the two beasts overwhelmed even ulysses and his crew of sailors.

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vehicle traffic crossing the bridge

 

 

the main reference for the project was this strong association of the site with the mythological presence of the two giant sea creatures. for the architect, it was natural to transform the ancestral memory of the monsters ‘scylla’ and ‘charybdis’ into two characterizing architectural landmarks, placed on either side of the strait. as the two mythological monsters took shape, they became the supporting towers of the bridge. that explains their vaguely anthropomorphic appearance, resembling the terrifying guardians of the strait of messina.

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the bridge in night view, seen from the calabria side

 

 

between the colossal columns that support the bridge, six large wind turbines recall the six dog-headed snakes that were attached to the body of the monster ‘scylla’. these turbines are designed to generate clean electricity, making the bridge self-sufficient in energy. as designed, the towers are 396m high and 3,200m apart. if built, this would be the longest bridge in the world, completely suspended and supported by large steel cables: a significant work of infrastructure that would directly connect the most important cities of southern italy.

the scylla and charybdis bridge the longest bridge in the world by marchisciana saverio adriano architect 1
view of the cable cars as they cross the bridge

 

 

the project envisages various means of transport for crossing the bridge: cars, buses, trucks, and trains or in a more spectacular way, a cable car system that passes through the heads of the two ‘scylla and charybdis’ towers. at the tops of the towers will be two head buildings, suspended at a height of 300m. inside them will be two cable car stations and two vertigo restaurants, thereby making the bridge a tourist attraction with the ability to generate its own economic patrimony. ‘the ‘scylla and charybdis’ bridge should not be a mere bridge whose only purpose is to provide a crossing between two regions; above all it should be a recognisable marker in the landscape, one that can also become an economic attractor for the whole of southern italy’ marchisciana saverio adriano says .

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view from the inside of the cable cars

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view of the cable cars as they approach the ‘scylla and charybdis’ head building

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the bridge tower seen from below

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axonometric view of the bridge

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front elevation and side view of the bridge tower

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axonometric section of the ‘scylla and charybdis’ head building

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drawing – the bridge tower is depicted as a fantastic monster emerging from the sea, tormenting a crew of ancient sailors

 

 

project info:

 

name: the ‘scylla and charybdis’ bridge
architect: marchisciana saverio adriano

 

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom