Ney & Partners commissioned to design the Jubiläumsbrücke, Ratingen (DE)

Ratingen, a medieval town north-east of Düsseldorf, is celebrating its 750th anniversary in 2026. To mark the occasion, the city has set itself the goal of replacing the dilapidated pedestrian bridge in the north of the city centre with a new structure. The new bridge spans the almost 16 m wide moat and connects to an existing gap in the protected city wall. In order not to distract from the historic surroundings, the bridge is designed as a simple geometry. A graphic pattern designed by Cologne artist Thomas Heinz breaks through the vertical metal sheets on the sides. Mysterious motifs allow for a variety of interpretations, which are nourished by the viewer’s imagination. The drawing can be read both positively (the material) and negatively (the openings) and creates an interesting interplay of light and shadow. In addition, the perforation of the metal sheets creates a gradual fading of the elements behind and thus a dialog between old and new.  The new bridge is designed as a simple steel construction, in which the railing also contributes to the load transfer.