In 1977, the environmental artist Dieter Magnus (1937–2023), who lived in Mainz Neustadt at the time, designed the Grüne Brücke (Green Bridge) as an “art and nature landscape”. In 1981, after some delay, it was realized by the engineer Horst Waldmann. The concrete construction with a total area of 2,000 m² is paved with terracotta-colored stones. Both the square edging of the outer bridge border and the cubic luminaires as well as the concrete elements decorated with geometric reliefs are all in yellow. They contrast with the green of the countless plants in the organically curved flowerbeds. For Magnus, the focus was on harmonizing the architecture of geometric shapes with nature and the rich vegetation. In addition to the beauty of nature, the rough materiality of the concrete is equally important for the design of the bridge. With its stylistic features and nature-oriented use, it can be classified as “eco-brutalism”. From the very beginning, the bridge has connected the Neustadt with Feldbergplatz on the banks of the Rhine via the busy Rheinstraße without barriers. It not only offers a variety of routes via ramps and staircases, but also creates intimate recreational spaces that can even accommodate an open-air stage and a waterfall.

Translation from Valerie Ucke’s article in: MAINZ 1970–2000. Das neue Selbstverständnis in der Architektur (2024) by Die Betonisten

Heritage protected since 2019, but is in urgent need of renovation, which is accompanied by political debates about appropriate funding (last updated on November 1, 2024).