Lužec nad Vltavou footbridge by Petr Tej, Marek Blank & Jan Mourek

Lužec nad Vltavou, a village in Bohemia near Mělník, stands as a unique Czech community since 1907, residing entirely on an island in the Vltava River’s picturesque floodplain. The village, situated on the largest island in the river, is now linked to Bukol by a footbridge along the EuroVelo 7 cycle route. The bridge, crafted with ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC), showcases a design characterized by lightness and subtlety. Supported by one pylon and spanning two fields (30 + 100m), the main field stretches 70m across the river. The bridge deck, a high-rise arch with a 777m radius, comprises prefabricated UHPFRC segments. Seventeen pairs of locked steel ropes form the hinges, allowing flexibility. Mounted on a fixed ring above the banks, the bridge deck features a free cantilever above the river, connected by two free cables. The entire structure, unified in medium gray tones, achieves a dematerialized aesthetic. Enhancing the connection with the landscape, a newly planted oak alley along the Bukol road will eventually match the pylon’s height, blending the footbridge seamlessly into its natural surroundings.