Ponte di Calatrava
Encyclopedia
The Ponte della Costituzione (Constitution Bridge) is the fourth bridge over the Grand Canal in Venice
, Italy
. It was designed by Santiago Calatrava
, and was moved into place in 2007 (connecting Stazione di Santa Lucia to Piazzale Roma
), amid protest by politicians and the general public. The bridge was installed in 2008
and opened to the public on the night of September 11, 2008. The bridge was known as Quarto Ponte sul Canal Grande before the official name was adopted to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Italian constitution in 2008. Tourists and locals in Venice now refer to it as the Calatrava Bridge .
designed an arched truss bridge
with a radius of 180 metres (590.6 ft), with a central arch, two side arches and two lower arches. Girders placed perpendicular to the arches join them together. The girders consist of steel tubes and plates, which form closed section boxes. The stairway on the bridge is paved with pietra d'Istria
, a stone traditionally used in Venice, alternating with tempered glass steps illuminated from below by fluorescent lights. The parapet
is also tempered glass, terminating in a bronze handrail with concealed lighting.
The internal structure can be appreciated by looking at a cross-section of the bridge exhibited outside at the waterfront, located between the Railway Directorate Headquarters and the Santa Lucia railway station. After fabrication, the bridge was moved into place by a large barge (connecting Stazione di Santa Lucia to Piazzale Roma
) in July 2007.
.
Ponte di Calatrava has many steps embedded in its relatively steep pavement, which means elderly people have difficulty climbing it and wheelchair users are excluded from crossing. Due to lasting protests, a mobility lift system resembling cocoons will be eventually installed in 2010, incurring large costs, since it was not part of the original design. The official budget for the project was €6.7 million, but actual costs have escalated significantly.
The placement of a new bridge a mere stone-throw from the existing Ponte degli Scalzi
bridge has also proven controversial, since the distances between Scalzi and Rialto Bridge
s or between the Rialto and Ponte dell'Accademia
bridges are severalfold longer, and with no other way to cross the canal besides the waterbus , or commuter gondola
. There is also no permanent connection between Venice and the well-populated Giudecca
island, although a tunnel has been proposed at not much greater cost than a bridge, promising better access for tourists and residents.
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It was designed by Santiago Calatrava
Santiago Calatrava
Santiago Calatrava Valls is a Spanish architect, sculptor and structural engineer whose principal office is in Zürich, Switzerland. Classed now among the elite designers of the world, he has offices in Zürich, Paris, Valencia, and New York City....
, and was moved into place in 2007 (connecting Stazione di Santa Lucia to Piazzale Roma
Piazzale Roma
Piazzale Roma is a square in Venice, Italy.The square acts as the main bus station for Venice. There are bus links to Venice Marco Polo Airport and Treviso Airport. The square is close to the main Santa Lucia railway station for Venice, linked by the Ponte della Costituzione, a modern footbridge...
), amid protest by politicians and the general public. The bridge was installed in 2008
2008 in architecture
The year 2008 in architecture involves some significant events.-Buildings:*January 1 - China Central Television Headquarters building, by Rem Koolhaas and OMA, officially opens in Beijing...
and opened to the public on the night of September 11, 2008. The bridge was known as Quarto Ponte sul Canal Grande before the official name was adopted to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Italian constitution in 2008. Tourists and locals in Venice now refer to it as the Calatrava Bridge .
Planning
In June 1999, the Municipality of Venice drafted a preliminary plan for a fourth bridge over the Grand Canal. Using a public selection process, they commissioned Santiago Calatrava in November 1999 to design the new bridge. Calatrava's response was an arched bridge with a large radius which was designed to be constructed off-site and installed entirely from the canal.Design
CalatravaSantiago Calatrava
Santiago Calatrava Valls is a Spanish architect, sculptor and structural engineer whose principal office is in Zürich, Switzerland. Classed now among the elite designers of the world, he has offices in Zürich, Paris, Valencia, and New York City....
designed an arched truss bridge
Truss bridge
A truss bridge is a bridge composed of connected elements which may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges...
with a radius of 180 metres (590.6 ft), with a central arch, two side arches and two lower arches. Girders placed perpendicular to the arches join them together. The girders consist of steel tubes and plates, which form closed section boxes. The stairway on the bridge is paved with pietra d'Istria
Istria
Istria , formerly Histria , is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner...
, a stone traditionally used in Venice, alternating with tempered glass steps illuminated from below by fluorescent lights. The parapet
Parapet
A parapet is a wall-like barrier at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony or other structure. Where extending above a roof, it may simply be the portion of an exterior wall that continues above the line of the roof surface, or may be a continuation of a vertical feature beneath the roof such as a...
is also tempered glass, terminating in a bronze handrail with concealed lighting.
The internal structure can be appreciated by looking at a cross-section of the bridge exhibited outside at the waterfront, located between the Railway Directorate Headquarters and the Santa Lucia railway station. After fabrication, the bridge was moved into place by a large barge (connecting Stazione di Santa Lucia to Piazzale Roma
Piazzale Roma
Piazzale Roma is a square in Venice, Italy.The square acts as the main bus station for Venice. There are bus links to Venice Marco Polo Airport and Treviso Airport. The square is close to the main Santa Lucia railway station for Venice, linked by the Ponte della Costituzione, a modern footbridge...
) in July 2007.
Controversy
The bridge has received heated criticism and seen inauguration delays and walk-outs, which originated from three main grievances: the lack of wheelchair access, lack of necessity and its modernist-minimalist style being incompatible with Venice's decorative medieval architectureVenetian Gothic architecture
Venetian Gothic is a term given to an architectural style combining use of the Gothic lancet arch with Byzantine and Moorish architecture influences. The style originated in 14th century Venice with the confluence of Byzantine styles from Constantinople, Arab influences from Moorish Spain and early...
.
Ponte di Calatrava has many steps embedded in its relatively steep pavement, which means elderly people have difficulty climbing it and wheelchair users are excluded from crossing. Due to lasting protests, a mobility lift system resembling cocoons will be eventually installed in 2010, incurring large costs, since it was not part of the original design. The official budget for the project was €6.7 million, but actual costs have escalated significantly.
The placement of a new bridge a mere stone-throw from the existing Ponte degli Scalzi
Ponte degli Scalzi
The Ponte degli Scalzi , literally, "bridge of the barefoot [monks]", is one of only four bridges in Venice, Italy, to span the Grand Canal....
bridge has also proven controversial, since the distances between Scalzi and Rialto Bridge
Rialto Bridge
The Rialto Bridge is one of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. It is the oldest bridge across the canal, and was the dividing line for the districts of San Marco and San Polo.- History :...
s or between the Rialto and Ponte dell'Accademia
Ponte dell'Accademia
The Ponte dell'Accademia is one of only four bridges in Venice, Italy, to span the Grand Canal. It crosses near the southern end of the canal, and is named for the Accademia galleries. The bridge links the sestiere of Dorsoduro and San Marco....
bridges are severalfold longer, and with no other way to cross the canal besides the waterbus , or commuter gondola
Gondola
The gondola is a traditional, flat-bottomed Venetian rowing boat, well suited to the conditions of the Venetian Lagoon. For centuries gondolas were the chief means of transportation and most common watercraft within Venice. In modern times the iconic boats still have a role in public transport in...
. There is also no permanent connection between Venice and the well-populated Giudecca
Giudecca
Giudecca is an island in the Venetian Lagoon, northern Italy. It is part of the sestiere of Dorsoduro. It is a locality of the comune of Venice.-Geography:...
island, although a tunnel has been proposed at not much greater cost than a bridge, promising better access for tourists and residents.