marte marte architekten arches schaufelschlucht bridge in austrian mountains

marte marte architekten arches schaufelschlucht bridge in austrian mountains
photo © marc lins
all images courtesy of marte marte architekten

as the second in a series of three bridges, marte marte architekten have completed ‘schaufelschlucht’ along a mountain road in western austria. the monolithic concrete form is composed with curving geometries, which are intended to display the structural forces it negotiates and express the contours of the land. spanning a length of 16.5 meters over a stream-filled gorge, the arching underbelly rises from a rocky hillside on its more open side to reach a short tunnel.

the bridge passes over a stream-filled gorge
photos © marc lins

‘schaufelschlucht’ is situated on a road leading to the small mountain town of ebnit from the more major city of dornbirn. it maintains a consistent approach began with the marte marte-designed schanerloch bridge, the first of the infrastructural trilogy project. in both scenarios, the use of concrete produces a sense of stability and permanence, with tonal and textural qualities similar to the bridges’ rocky foundations.

the structure and its guard rails are cast as one monolithic concrete form
photo © marc lins

the bridge curves to negotiate travel between the two hillsides’ topographies
photo © marc lins

photos © marc lins

the roadway passes through a short tunnel adjacent to the bridge
photo © marc lins

photos © marc lins

the thick base on the sloping side arches upward to meet the sheer cliff on the tunnel’s side
photo © marc lins

photo © marc lins

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project info:

client: stadt dornbirn
architecture: marte.marte architekten zt gmbh / bernhard marte, stefan marte
supporting length: 16.5 m
total width: 5 m, bis 6.5 m
clear width of roadway: min. 4.2 m
reinforced concrete-bow: minimum thickness 50 cm
footing: directly on the stable rock
building costs: ca. 450.000€
planning: 2011    
construction: 2012
photography: marc lins