Capricorn bridge in Dusseldorf made by facade specialist seele

530sqm

surface

40t

steel for substructure

60

trapezoidal and triangular insulating glass units

capricorn bridge - a 35m long steel-and-glass structure

FLOAT, an office building designed by architect Renzo Piano, was built at the southern end of Dusseldorf’s so-called “Medienhafen” (media harbour). This building has now been connected to the “Capricorn” building across the street by a spectacular steel-and-glass pedestrian bridge.

The bridge structure, with a total length of 35m, consists of a closed, tubular grid shell with glazing made of approx. 60 trapezoidal and triangular insulated glass units (up to 8.1 x 3.0m). The kink in the bridge, evident in the horizontal section, ensures an exact connection to both buildings. The loads of the bridge are absorbed solely by means of the steel structure in the glazed middle column. Since the two cantilevered bridge arms to the left and right of the column have different lengths and angles, the structural design is correspondingly complex.

Header image: © HG Esch

  • The Capricorn Bridge is a steel-glass bridge made by seele. It is connecting two buildings in Düsseldorf.
  • Pedestrian Bridge made of steel and glass in Dusseldorf, Germany, made by seele.
  • seele realized the steel-and-glass bridge Capricorn in Dusselsdorf.
  • The Capricorn Bridge is a steel-glass bridge located in Dusselsdorf made by seele
  • seele realized the steel-and-glass bridge Capricorn in Dusselsdorf.
The Capricorn Bridge is a steel-glass bridge made by seele. It is connecting two buildings in Düsseldorf.
© HG Esch
Pedestrian Bridge made of steel and glass in Dusseldorf, Germany, made by seele.
© HG Esch
seele realized the steel-and-glass bridge Capricorn in Dusselsdorf.
© HG Esch
The Capricorn Bridge is a steel-glass bridge located in Dusselsdorf made by seele
© HG Esch
seele realized the steel-and-glass bridge Capricorn in Dusselsdorf.
© HG Esch

Project diary

Behind the scenes of Capricorn Bridge

The realization of the 35m long Carpicorn Bridge. 

  • 04/2020
  • 01/2020
  • 12/2019
  • 11/2019
  • 10/2019
  • 07/2019
  • 06/2019
  • 06/2019
  • 05/2019
  • 04/2019
  • 03/2019
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04/2020

On 03/04/2020 seele completes construction works and the bridge is successfully accepted.
04/2020

01/2020

The 35m Capricorn Bridge in Dusseldorf is almost completed. Recently the glazing of the bridge arms took place.
01/2020

12/2019

One side of the bridge is already fully glazed.
12/2019

11/2019

Glazing works on the bridge have already begun.
11/2019

10/2019

Only one weekend was necessary to lift and fix the two 26t and 12t heavy cantilevers. ©HGEsch
10/2019

07/2019

Start of assembly of the Capricorn Bridge in Dusseldorf.
07/2019

06/2019

Produced trapezoidal and triangular insulated glass units with exact fit for the steel construction
06/2019

06/2019

Complete assembly of the steel structure of the Carpicorn Bridge © HGEsch Photography
06/2019

05/2019

Production of laminated brackets © HGEsch Photography
05/2019

04/2019

A grid shell made of eight polygons, longitudinal ribs and diagonals forms the body. Over the next four weeks, the various parts will be joined to form two completely self-supporting bridge arms and a central pylon.
04/2019

03/2019

The steel substructure consists of a central pylon and 2 bridge arms. The central pylon consists of 13 round columns. The base of the pylon, the so-called foot element, will be delivered to the construction site in one piece in a size of 8 x 3m and will be encased in conrete. Absolute precision is required, because every millimetre is decisive for assembly on the construction site.
03/2019

Credits

Main contractor Pirol Holzstraße GmbH & Co. KG
Architect Gatermann + Schossig Architekten GmbH
Engineer osd – office for structural design; Wilhelm & Partner
Date of completion 2019
Scope of work by seele

Pedestrian bridge between two buildings

  • 530sqm surface
  • approx. 40t steel for substructure
  • approx. 60 trapezoidal and triangular insulating glass units as well as 2- and 3-ply glass laminates, measuring up to 8.1 x 3m