Draft initiative for the Theodor Heuss Bridge in Düsseldorf

The Theodor Heuss Bridge in Düsseldorf is dilapidated. Instead of renovation, a new construction could be an option – RKW Architektur + and JLL have developed the idea for a green bridge that offers a landscaped park for pedestrians and cyclists.

The Theodor Heuss Bridge is the second oldest of Düsseldorf’s seven bridges. It is dilapidated and urgently needs to be renovated or rebuilt. The city of Düsseldorf has therefore called for a dialog on the future of the bridge. In this context, RKW Architektur + and Marcel Abel from JLL Düsseldorf have proposed an exciting thought experiment: what if motorized traffic is banished to a four-lane, underground tube in future and a green bridge runs across the Rhine as a landscape park with a fast cycle path?

The visualizations produced show a spectacular and sustainable structure that is particularly geared towards pedestrian traffic. There will also be living space, a hotel and office space. The Green Bridge would offer new perspectives on the city. “The bridge needs to be rebuilt anyway, but today it can be made into much more than just a traffic route – a sustainable structure that gives people quality space in an optimal location,” says Marcel Abel.

The design.lab at RKW Architektur+ developed the visionary proposal. The idea behind it is to move away from the idea of the bridge as a monofunctional structure. Instead, the Green Bridge is intended to connect a variety of services. It is reserved for cyclists, pedestrians and greenery.

The new Theodor Heuss Bridge in Düsseldorf could lead to motorized traffic driving through the Rhine in a tube in future. According to the proposal, the bridge’s current towering pylons would be replaced by usable architecture. The static chain line would determine the shape and height of the structure, with a high point on both sides of the bank. The bridge, which is over 1.5 kilometers long, would have a curved shape and measure around 65 meters at its widest point. The highest point would be around 47 meters above the street level of Cecilienallee. The clearance height for shipping traffic would remain unrestricted.

The construction time for this vision by RKW Architektur + is estimated at around three to four years. The costs could amount to around 700 million euros. This also includes the cost of a temporary bridge to connect the two banks of the Rhine at this point during construction.

“Today, bridges are much more than functional connections. They can create new living space with attractive uses – they are places of encounter. Because in the future, we will live more airily in cities,” says Dieter Schmoll, Managing Partner at RKW Architektur +.

Probably the most important function of the proposed Green Bridge is as a green ribbon. This is because the new Theodor Heuss Bridge in Düsseldorf would also be a landscape park connecting Golzheim with the Niederkassel Rhine meadows. A fast cycle path is to run through the green. Playgrounds and barbecue areas would provide views of the city skyline. And with kiosks, cafés and offers such as urban gardening and farming projects, the quality of stay would also be very high.

For RKW Architektur +, the idea of a long-term revitalization of the bridge with many possible uses is very important. This includes 400 residential units, from mini-apartments to maisonettes. According to the proposal, publicly subsidized and privately financed living space should alternate. This would create a lively, intergenerational neighborhood very close to the water.

The concept also includes a hotel with 350 rooms, a spa and panoramic restaurant, unusual office spaces in the pylon structures and mobility hubs in the bridge bases. Thanks to charging stations for electric cars and bicycles, car-sharing services and bicycle rental, the Green Bridge can be designed sustainably. And wind turbines, photovoltaic systems and efficient prefabricated steel components will also support Düsseldorf’s ambitious climate targets.

“We are giving the city impetus by combining transportation and sustainability, recreation and radiance. The Green Bridge can set standards beyond Germany, which in turn reflects on Düsseldorf. That is why we will use our resources and networks to realize this project,” says Marcel Abel from JLL.

It is still unclear whether the city of Düsseldorf will approve the draft initiative. What is certain, however, is that the Theodor Heuss Bridge, which is over 60 years old, is in the last third of its life cycle. It is already necessary to restrict truck traffic. The city of Düsseldorf placed the cable-stayed bridge under a preservation order in 2016.

The Office for Bridge, Tunnel and Light Rail Construction is currently still in the planning phase. A public participation process took place in June 2023, during which the proposal by RKW Architektur + was also discussed. Two further dialog forums are planned for the autumn. And at the end of 2023 or beginning of 2024, a draft resolution is to be developed that describes a preferred option for the future of the Rhine crossing. We are keeping our fingers crossed for a sustainable Green Bridge!

There are also plans for a sustainable redesign of the Braunau railroad bridge in Munich.