Stadtoval Aalen

The Municipal Council of Werner Sobek’s native city of Aalen near Stuttgart has voted to build the filigree pedestrian bridge designed by Werner Sobek. The bridge will link the city centre with the new urban district currently being developed near the main station. As far as the development of the Aalen town centre is concerned, the so-called Stadtoval is destined to be one of the most important projects of the coming decades. Some 220 to 250 residential units, commercial areas, cultural facilities and open spaces for contemporary leisure activities are being created in immediate proximity to the main railway station. A footbridge across the tracks providing a direct connection to the town centre is an important prerequisite for the success of this urban development scheme. To accomplish this vision the district council selected the design put forward by Werner Sobek. The design envisages an elegant, yet unassuming, wide spanning band stretching across the tracks. Winding spiral stairways at both end points minimize the public space required for the structure. LED elements integrated in the railings together with filigree lanterns create impressive lighting effects to showcase the bridge at night.