As the ribs of a fish: iGuzzini lighting provides a new quality to the footbridge in Hradec Králové

The author team (Libor Kábrt, Gabriela Elichová, Martin Elich) primarily aimed for a natural connection between the city and the river. The natural surroundings of the parks and avenues inspired the organic shape of both the bridge itself and its approach: “The staircase allows us to overcome the engineering networks, which are incredibly numerous on both banks. The staircase leads to a pedestrian piazzetta, which should continue into the forecourt of the archive in the future. The shape of the bridge entrance follows the curves of the footbridge and arises not only from aesthetic requirements but also from the desire to merge paths: the footbridge is accessible from all sides, and even though it deals with a significant elevation, it does not create a barrier. Continuous paths alongside the Elbe run beneath the footbridge and continue uninterrupted along the embankments. The entrance staircase features classic steps along the railing that gradually lower into the space of the piazzetta and become part of the leisure area,” explains Gabriela Elichová.

In addition, it was necessary to consider the swans, ensuring that good visibility of the bridge would facilitate their orientation and that the bridge would not obstruct their takeoff. The architectural team discussed with experts and ornithologists from the agricultural university to avoid the risk that the bridge would become a dangerous obstacle for the swans. “We had to reinforce some elements slightly; for instance, we consulted the density of the railing mesh and the thickness of the ribs, and color was also addressed. In the end, to our delight, it turned out that the necessary adjustments were minimal, including the proposed white,” says Gabriela Elichová. The structure of the footbridge resembles the ribs of a floating fish; the delicate weave of the railing contributes to the feeling of the fragility of the structure.

The gentle visuality is also underscored by the lighting of the footbridge from two sources. The Underscore InOut linear strip from iGuzzini, positioned in the railing handrails, illuminates the area of the footbridge and serves as a light source for those passing or driving by. The question of lighting the ribs beneath the bridge was more complex: “Not too strong, so as not to disrupt the sleep rhythms of animals and people, yet it must function in case of fog or reduced visibility so that the bridge does not pose a danger to the swans,” summarizes Gabriela Elichová. This was ultimately achieved thanks to the effect light fixture Trick with a very narrow beam angle.

“The lighting solution that would ensure illumination of the lower ribs with a narrow beam was made possible by a product from iGuzzini. Lighting is important for architectural realizations: considering the shape of the structure, the direction, color, and intensity can be adjusted, and light emphasizes the form solution or enhances the effect of the architecture,” describes Libor Kábrt, adding that their team collaborates long-term with a lighting technician: “We regularly work with engineer Žák from the Lighting Technology Studio, who has a detailed overview of various types of light fixtures and their possibilities that could suit our design. He is often part of the team, and we contribute to the design together. We find it optimal when all members of the team bring expertise from their own professions into the solutions.”

The resulting atmosphere was created through the collaboration of the architectural team, the lighting technician, and the lighting supplier. “The author collective had a clear vision from the beginning: light lines on both sides of the footbridge from one end to the other and illuminating the ribs so that the swans would not overlook them in reduced visibility. It was necessary to devise a solution that would support both the architectural and technical requirements while minimizing parasitic lighting directly into the water. We recommended the Underscore InOut fixture from iGuzzini for the handrails—a linear highly durable LED fixture used for atypical installations. For illuminating the ribs, the TRICK fixture with a very narrow 180° Light Blade optics. I believe we can be satisfied with the final appearance of the footbridge's lighting,” smiles Michal Kozák from Etna iGuzzini.