A memento of the industrial age indelibly etched into the image of the city. More than a hundred years ago, a trio of graceful arches was added to the Prague skyline and today the iconic connection with the nearby basilica cannot be replaced by a new building. The historical value of the building cannot be replaced by a modern form, no matter how poor the technical condition. The bridge has become such an important part of the city that it cannot be removed. The technological advances that have occurred during the bridge’s lifetime should be capitalized upon to save and preserve the original riveted structure for future generations. The needs for capitalization should be satisfied by a contemporary addition to the existing structural substance in the form of a new bridge. Modern and brave, yet humble to the original design and construction practices of other Prague bridges.
Theses of František Mencl. All Prague bridges are arched and yet different. Different geometric arches of different materiality supporting the upper bridge deck are anchored to massive piers submerged in the Vltava River. The static scheme that has been with human beings since time immemorial can also be illustrated in contemporary architectural language. An elegant and subtle form using the latest techniques and technologies. A new bridge is not created next to an old one without a dialogue between them. The contemporary interpretation of the Prague bridge harmoniously complements the beautiful riveted construction of the original railway bridge with its typical silhouette of three arches. The symbiosis of these elements creates one strong whole.
