The Capricorn Bridge skyway in Düsseldorf spans a road with a steel structure and triangular glass panes on which a car drives

skyway in dusseldorf

capricorn bridge links office buildings

A polymorphic steel-and-glass skyway spans between two buildings in Dusseldorf’s Media Harbor. The design of the skyway is based on an enclosed grid shell. Steel polygons, longitudinal ribs and diagonals form the steel structure for the trapezoidal and triangular insulated glass units. A central pillar supports the cantilevered arms of the bridge. 

Façade type
Steel-and-glass design
Contractor
Pirol Holzstraße GmbH & Co. KG
Engineer
osd – office for structural design / Wilhelm & Partner
Architect
Gatermann + Schossig Architekten GmbH
Awards

Iconic Award Innovative Architecture 2021

© HG Esch

Inside the Capricorn Bridge skyway is an illuminated path for pedestrians. The outer shell consists of glass panes, the supporting structure is made of steel tubes
The Capricorn Bridge skyway connects to a building with a partly red façade and crosses a road. The underside of the skyway consists of white panels
The illuminated Capricorn Bridge skyway with steel supporting structure amidst illuminated office buildings in Düsseldorf's Media Harbour at night.

skyway with complex structural engineering

A glazed central steel column carries the loads of the 35 m long skyway. Since the two cantilevered arms of the bridge on either side of the column have different lengths (12 vs 20 m) and angles, the structural engineering was accordingly complex. The visible kink in the bridge’s plan ensures a precise connection to both buildings.

#madebyseele

Enclosed pedestrian bridge — steel substructure — trapezoidal and triangular double insulating glass units plus 2- and 3-ply glass laminates

530 sqm
envelope of the skyway
40 t
steel frame
60
insulating glass units
8.1 x 3 m
size of 3-ply glass laminates
further projects
Interior view of the pedestrian bridge Eaton Centre Bridge at night, steel frame with glass panes, illuminated baseboard, tapering tunnel, black and white stripes, metal handrails Detail of the Eaton Centre Bridge pedestrian bridge with white portal frame, illuminated baseboard and metal handrail

eaton centre bridge

toronto, canada
Illuminated steel and glass bridge ‘New Street Square Bridges’ between two illuminated office buildings with glass facades over a street in London

new street square bridges

london, uk