Inauguration of Calatrava Bridge to be Focus of Jerusalem Anniversary
JERUSALEM, June 24 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
On June 25th, the city of Jerusalem will mark 40 years of reunification with a spectacular celebration and
public inauguration of the Jerusalem Light Rail Train Bridge designed by Santiago Calatrava. The bridge will
serve as a dramatic new entry point to the holy city, and will be the centerpiece of the city's light rail system.
Calatrava designed a cable-stayed bridge that accommodates within a light
and transparent structure two light-rail tracks, a pedestrian walkway and a public plaza below. Its single
inclined pylon creates a clear visual direction
towards the city. The cables are arranged in a parabolic shape which develops
three-dimensionally in space, suggesting the shape of the harp of King David
as a symbol of the holy city, inspiring city residents to call it the "Bridge
of Strings."
"Bridges join places that were separated," stated Santiago Calatrava. "They are built for the sake of
progress and for the average citizen. They even have a religious dimension. The word 'religious' comes from
the Latin,
meaning 'creating a link.' A bridge makes a lot of sense in a city like
Jerusalem."
The inauguration will be hosted by the Municipality of Jerusalem and will
take place on June 25th starting at 6:00 pm. The evening will feature images
of the bridge's construction and videos of Jerusalem projected on large
outdoor screens, as well as music by the Jerusalem Symphonic Orchestra
punctuated with synchronized fireworks, dancers, and children's choirs. As the
bridge is slowly illuminated, emerging from the darkness of evening, it will
be heralded by trumpets, harps and choirs. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Jerusalem Mayor Uri
Lupolianski will preside over the celebration.
Architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava has completed more than 29
bridges in 13 countries since opening his practice in 1981. Most recently three bridges in Reggio Emilia,
Italy, were inaugurated in late 2007. The Quarto Ponte sul Canal Grande in Venice will be completed in late
2008.
Additional bridges are in design and construction in Dallas, Texas; Dublin, Ireland; and Valencia, Spain.
Other notable projects by Mr. Calatrava include the City of Arts and
Sciences in his home city of Valencia, Spain (begun in 1991 and ongoing); Lyon-Saint Exupery Airport
Railway Station in France (completed 1994); Oriente
Station in Lisbon, Portugal (1998); the Milwaukee Art Museum, Calatrava's first project in the U.S. (2001);
the Athens Olympic Sports Complex (2004);
and Turning Torso Tower in Malmo, Sweden (2005). Buildings now in design and
construction include the World Trade Center Transportation Hub in New York City; a new music center for
the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in Atlanta,
Georgia; the Chicago Spire, which will be the tallest building in the Western
Hemisphere; sports facilities and campus buildings for University of
Maastricht, The Netherlands, and Roma II University in Tor Vergata, Italy; and
the Liege Guillemins TGV Railway Station which will be completed later this year.
SOURCE Santiago Calatrava Inc.
CONTACT: Tracy Levy of Santiago Calatrava Inc.,
+1-212-452-1046,
media.newyork@calatrava.com
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