Situation before project implementationThe river Krka is a plain river. Its continuous flow and tranquil elegance in the area of the new town with a meandering structure lining the town. This creates a magical ambience of natural landscape, beautifully intertwined with the cultural landscape. A heavy but calm body of water glides slowly through the landscape, with tree canopies bending over it, completing the watery world as a kind of passepartout to the surroundings.Irča village lies on the outskirts of Novo mesto, the capital of the Dolenjska region. The surrounding hills and valleys represent the identity of the area, which has inspired painters with its richness of shapes and colours on many occasions.In order to revitalise the bypass area in the wider area, the installation of a pedestrian and cycling bridge in Irča vas was necessary and inevitable. It enriched the pedestrian routes on both banks and connected the satellite settlements.Aim of the interventionIn order to preserve the natural habitat of the river, we wanted to create a bridge that would interfere as little as possible with the river space. A bridge without abutments in the river bed spanning both banks of the river Krka is the answer to the question of the respectful relationship of architecture to nature. The structure of the suspended footbridge also reflects the natural form, the gravitational force placing the ribbon in space according to purely natural laws. This also makes the physical structure harmonious and in tune with nature. The square on the village side forms the centre of the place, what the space lacked in urban planning terms. The village did not have a centre. The entrance plaza is a place to meet, to socialise, to enjoy nature.The balcony next to the bridge is the best vantage point from which to observe the bend of the river Krka, and the view from there is enriched by a view of the structure of the bridge in its natural surroundings.Description of the interventionThe pedestrian and cycling bridge in Irča vas proves to be an example of respectful integration of architecture into the natural environment. With its subtle presence and sensitively designed form, it blends unobtrusively into the beautiful landscape along the Krka River.The slender suspended structure, which is only 42 centimetres high, curves over the river over a span of 130 metres, allowing it to blend harmoniously into the natural environment without encroaching on the peripheral zone.The materials used in the construction of the bridge have been carefully chosen to blend in aesthetically and texturally with the surroundings. The bold and thoughtfully designed concrete structure, complemented by steel and wood, creates the feeling that the bridge is not just an artistic or engineering structure, but becomes part of nature.Final EvaluationThe new footbridge, with its design, the materials chosen and the thoughtful use of light, not only creates a sustainable and functional whole, but also conjures up an artistic expression that enhances the natural environment and allows visitors to experience and appreciate the beauty of the River Krka.Respect for the environment, combined with a bridge structure that is completely free of the ballast of form and shape, designed to the ideal limits of rationality, results in a harmonious solution that connects places, rivers and people. It creates a space of coming together.The interdisciplinary work of urban planners, architects, engineers and above all the client has succeeded in creating a quality urban space on the river path, linking the village, the forest and offering shelter and a walk through the treetops.
