Taylor Bridge, a new symbolic gateway to the city of Mannheim, crosses over the B38 motorway to provide a direct connection for pedestrians and cyclists between the S-Bahn station and the Taylor Barracks. A former US military installation, the Taylor Barracks site was handed over to the municipality of Mannheim in 2010 and is currently the subject of an extensive redevelopment scheme. The bridge flows directly into Taylor Park on one side and the Mannheim ring highway on the other, making it a vital improvement to Mannheim's soft mobility network. Statically the bridge is divided into 5 distinct elements: the 2 bridge heads on either side of the motorway connected by a truss structure that spans between them, anchored by 2 access ramps. With an elegant structure, the bridge serves as a carefully studied expression of its static and functional requirements. The height of the trusses allows for their slender cross section, while the section of the bridge that spans over the motorway is raised on 2 exposed concrete plinths that protect the bridge from both moisture and the risk of impact. As it extends in the direction of the S-Bahn station, the structure is elevated among the treetops on individual wooden pillars resting on concrete plinths. Constructed out of spruce timber and clad in larch shingles, the structure takes inspiration from the tradition of covered wooden bridges in the surrounding Alpine region. The shingles form a shell around the skeleton of the bridge, creating a spatial experience for those passing through it and protecting the structural elements from weathering.
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