Scharnerloch Bridge
Marte.Marte Architects – Dornbirn, Austria
The bridge is part of the mountain road from Dornbirn to the holiday village of Ebnit, a former Walser settlement at the source of the Dornbirner Ache, nestled at the foot of the Staufen and Hohen Kugel mountains. Characterized by natural tunnels and stone bridges, this road features the bridge as an embodiment of modern technological advancement applied to the typology of the stone arch bridge.
To counteract the underutilization of reinforced concrete, the arch was minimized to a static minimum and further subjected to a twist. This twist also responds to the curvature of the road on both sides, transforming the bridge into a concrete sculpture.
While the bridge appears unspectacular from a top view or the driver’s perspective, it presents a fascinating sight from the banks of the Ache, which winds through the gorge: playfully mimicking the frozen dynamism of the mountain road and manifesting the drama of the location in reinforced concrete. A perfectly executed engineering and design achievement, precisely integrated into the surrounding natural spectacle.
Text: Marina Hämmerle