The Campo Volantin Bridge or The Zubizuri is the name that has been given to the new pedestrian bridge over the Nervion River in Bilbao,Spain. ‘Zubizuri’ means white bridge in basque. This probably refers to the bridge’s white colour.
Santiago Calatrava is the one responsible for this sleek white bridge’s exceptional design with its glass floor and use of white concrete and white steel which seem to have become this artist’s trademarks. The bridge features and unconventional curved path overshadowed by massive white steel cables that perform the function of holding the bridge in place. The translucent glass bricks on its floor give it a different feel too.
The bridge’s main purpose is to provide a link between the Campo Volantin right bank and Uribitarte left bank of the river. But it also serves as a convenient route for tourists to reach the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum. The bridge is also one of the first structures built in accordance with the enterprising plan to reinvigorate the city.
The bridge though a marvel to look at is impractical in several ways. Its glass bricks though fine on warm summer evenings, become extremely slippery during the winter. The cost of repairing the damages to these brick is also extremely high. Moreover Calatrava’s bridge connects the left bank to the Uribitarte dock and not to the higher street Alameda Mazarredo and Calatrava won’t allow the construction of a short foot bridge to Mazarredo either.
