Project Overview
The Bille Bridge is a decisive component for the continuity of the Alster-Bille-Elbe green corridor, connecting the "Park am Hochwasserbassin" with the "Neuer Huckepackbahnhof" district. The project facilitates a throughway from the Alster to the Elbe, linking the districts of Hammerbrook and Rothenburgsort. It is designed to find a balance between architectural presence and a harmonious integration into the future urban ensemble of high-rise buildings and surrounding historical railway bridges.
Design Concept
The architectural idea focuses on "flying lightly" over the industrial landscape with a clear, continuous line. The form derives from structural logic: a box girder folded to achieve maximum efficiency at the supports while maintaining slenderness across the span. The design features a rhythmic balustrade of timber posts, arranged like crossing sticks and parametrically tuned to the bridge's changing geometry. This creates a transparent veil that preserves views of the river while introducing a warm, tactile quality that contrasts with the robust steel body.
Structure and Engineering
The bridge is engineered as a single-span, simple supported section designed for ease of construction and site installation.
Primary Structure: Two lateral box girders in weathering steel vary in depth, with the maximum section at the support positions to follow structural behavior.
Composite Deck: The girders are connected by cross-beams supporting prefabricated concrete planks. These planks provide horizontal stiffening and integrate a transverse non-slip surface.
Foundations: The structure rests on micro-piles designed to take vertical loads while minimizing the physical impact on the existing ground and shore walls.
Sustainability (Regeneration/Resilience)
Sustainability is prioritized through material choice and a "no-maintenance" philosophy.
Weathering Steel: Corten steel was selected for its self-protecting patina, which eliminates the need for maintenance or corrosion treatments throughout the product life cycle.
Reclaimed Materials: The timber for the balustrade is sourced from reclaimed stocks in Hamburg’s historic boatyards, recycling the city’s maritime past into a renewable future.
Ecological Lighting: Energy-efficient, insect-friendly LEDs are integrated into the handrails. The system includes presence detectors to deactivate lighting when not in use, protecting the nocturnal environment and local biodiversity.
Urban Integration and Spatial Experience
The bridge acts as an urban connector, stitching together industrial grounds and new public spaces. With a width of 5.50m, it provides a comfortable shared space for pedestrians and cyclists, designed with a barrier-free gradient of approximately 2.5% to 3%. The spatial experience is defined by the beauty of moving over flowing water, where the "Ahr-Red" and brown tones of the steel resonate with the local urban color palette. It serves not just as a crossing, but as a civic gesture—an urban horizon of steel, timber, and light.
