Bridges between bridges

Faculty of Architecture and Design STU in Bratislava

Project idea

URBAN AND CONCEPTUAL CONTEXT
The site is defined by the strong presence of large-scale bridge infrastructure, including the Old Railway Bridge, the New Railway Bridge, the Gazela Bridge, and the Ada Bridge. The architectural concept responds to this context by interpreting the buildings themselves as "bridges between bridges." By elevating the volumes to the level of the Old Railway Bridge, the design addresses both the infrastructural scale of the surroundings and the site's location within a potential flood zone.
The massing strategy is based on strict, linear volumes arranged parallel and perpendicular to one another. This disciplined and orthogonal architectural language contrasts with the organic and dynamic design of the public spaces and sports areas, which reference the movement, flexibility and energy of athletic activity. The overall height of the buildings respects the dominance of the surrounding bridges and does not exceed the height of the New Railway Bridge.

Project description

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The proposed project Pontis is a sports and residential complex located on the bank of the Sava river in Belgrade, within a former industrial area. The project transforms an existing brownfield site into a new urban node that combines sports, accommodation, recreation and public spaces. The complex provides facilities primarily for professional athletes while also offering selected programs and open spaces accessible to the public, strengthening the relationship between the riverfront, infrastructure and the city.
FUNCTIONAL CONCEPT
The main focus of the complex is sport-oriented use, with the dominant building functions being athlete accommodation, training, dining and regeneration. The accommodation capacity consists of 45 single rooms (including 4 barrier-free rooms) and 30 double rooms, providing housing for a total of 105 athletes. The main building program includes a gym, dining facilities, a library, and a conference room.
The complex is composed of four rectangular volumes elevated above ground level to align with the height of the Old Railway Bridge, which is envisioned as a future pedestrian bridge and acts as the primary access point to the site. The longitudinal volume directly connected to the bridge contains the main entrance to the gym and a publicly accessible café. From this level, visitors can also access the walkable roof of the gym, which functions as a public viewpoint.
The remaining volumes accommodate the athletes' housing and dining facilities and are accessible exclusively to residents through a vertical circulation core designed as two towers. A large central courtyard between the buildings functions as a public square, connected to surrounding pedestrian paths and trails. Access to the outdoor sports facilities is controlled. Outdoor programs include basketball, volleyball and tennis courts, a calisthenics area, a pump track, an outdoor swimming pool and a pump track. There's a water fountain that transforms into a small ice rink during the winter months, an amphitheater, space for food trucks, and an elevated public area creating seating steps and platforms.
TRANSPORTATION AND ACCESS
Smaller parking areas for short-term use and drop-off are located on both sides of the complex. The original Brodarska Street is interrupted and a larger parking area is proposed beneath the New Railway Bridge. From there, vehicles access the smaller parking zones near the buildings. The site is integrated into existing pedestrian and cycling networks, with direct connections to the pedestrian route on the Old Railway Bridge and the riverside promenade along the Sava River.

Technical information

MASSING AND STRUCTURAL SYSTEM
The complex consists of four rectangular building volumes supported by four vertical circulation cores. Two slimmer cores, located between the buildings and the Old Railway Bridge, contain staircases and elevators. The remaining two cores are more prominent, extending slightly above the building volumes and functioning as vertical landmarks and observation points.
The primary structural system is a steel bridge-like construction, inspired by the structural logic of the Old Railway Bridge. Interior partition walls are designed using CLT panels. The vertical circulation towers are also based on steel structures, combined with a reinforced concrete wall running from ground level to the top of the building, providing structural stability and load transfer.
Although the buildings are elevated above ground, they remain relatively low-rise, with one to two above-ground floors. The accommodation buildings have two floors, the dining hall and café consist of a single floor with increased clear height, the gym is primarily single-story with a double-height section at ground level, and the library is designed as a two-story space.
MATERIALS AND FACADE DESIGN
The material concept is based on the contrast between an exposed steel structure and lightweight envelope systems. Facades combine full-height glazing (both transparent and reflective), polycarbonate panels and fiber-cement boards.
In the accommodation building, the steel structure is expressed on the exterior, with a simple glazed volume inserted within it. The facade features a regular modular grid corresponding to the room layout. The remaining buildings conceal the main structure on the exterior and express it primarily within the interior spaces. Through glazing and translucent materials, the structural grid remains subtly visible from the outside.
ECOLOGICAL AND SUSTAINABLE PRINCIPLES
The design incorporates multiple strategies to enhance environmental performance and improve the microclimate of the site. Selected buildings feature green roofs, while the roof of the dining facility is equipped with photovoltaic panels. Water elements and extensive greenery are used throughout the outdoor areas.
Within the accommodation building, four vertical openings allow river water from the Sava to flow through the structure, creating interior waterfall features. These elements contribute to passive cooling, improved indoor comfort, and enhanced spatial quality. The structural system is conceived primarily as a dry construction with a high potential for disassembly, reuse and material recycling, including the use of recycled steel where feasible.

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