Aaresteg Zehendermätteli Competition

The competition organized by the Burgergemeinde Bern, the municipality of Bremgarten bei Bern and the City of Bern sought a slender, durable pedestrian bridge that would remain visually understated within the natural landscape along the Aare. The brief called for a design that blends sensitively into a high‑value environment, demonstrates structural clarity, and addresses sustainability throughout its full life cycle. The jury awarded second place to LINEA, the proposal submitted by IB.

Landscape integration
LINEA follows the natural contours of the Aare’s meander and integrates with restraint through a minimal structural footprint. The shallow‑founded abutments are placed to blend discreetly with the terrain. Existing trees are replaced with locally appropriate species, and interventions in sensitive areas are kept to a minimum. The design responds to the distinct conditions of each bank: the protected riverside zone at Zehendermätteli and the forest edge and spring‑fed wetland near Bremgarten.

Design and structure
The bridge is conceived as a slender parabolic truss. A gently arched weathering‑steel box girder forms the upper chord and is complemented by a fine lattice of welded flat steel. The deck consists of modular timber cassettes that offer a warm tactile quality and allow targeted replacement of individual components. Structurally, the bridge acts as a simple beam with lightly loaded supports. Because the abutments carry only vertical forces, their size and foundation depth can be reduced. This approach minimizes impacts on the sensitive wetland on the Bremgarten side and ensures careful soil treatment.

Sustainability, biodiversity and bird protection
The concept applies a principle of reduction: efficient material use, a streamlined construction process and minimal disturbance to existing habitats. Weathering steel eliminates the need for solvent‑based coatings, while the timber modules support resource‑efficient maintenance. The straightforward structural system does not require seals or plastics. Vegetation and soil impacts are offset with local replanting and ecological enhancement of the riverbanks. The design intentionally avoids cable‑like or semi‑transparent elements, improving visibility and significantly reducing collision risks for birds.

Jury statement
The jury recognized LINEA as an elegant, thoroughly considered and structurally coherent project, highlighting:

• A clear architectural expression in strong dialogue with the Aare
• A precise material strategy combining weathering steel and wood
• A convincing structural logic linking compression arch and bending beam
• A discreet integration into the terrain supported by ecological replanting