It is only the width of a single railway track on a bridge – the Braunau Railway Bridge. Yet it could create an important connection to the green Isar floodplains in the south-east of Munich. The track has been unused for more than 40 years and offers space for something new. It is to be temporarily brought back to life as a new meeting place above the Isar and converted into a pedestrian walkway. In this way, existing infrastructure can be revitalised and, through the sustainable use of resources, create added value for the city and its residents.
An old bridge to create new connections
Opened in 1871, the bridge forms part of a railway line running across the city from Munich Central Station to Munich East Station. One section was closed in 1981 and placed under heritage protection in 2017. This unused section is to be temporarily reactivated as a pedestrian bridge by civil-society stakeholders. In addition to the non-profit organisation Isarlust e.V., key stakeholders include Zeichen & Wunder, Deutsche Bahn, THW München-Mitte, the architecture practice Hannes Rössler and the City of Munich. Isarglück will allow the creation of new connections between four neighbourhoods and the Isar, while significantly shortening walking routes for around 80,000 local residents.
Making the future visible
Isarglück is intended to be more than just a crossing. Seating, planting and spaces to spend time will transform it into a public space for movement, social interaction and experiencing nature. All elements will make use of separable and reusable materials, allowing the bridge to be dismantled after use or, if required, developed into a permanent structure. The project should also serve as a real-world laboratory for future-oriented mobility, and demonstrate how historic infrastructure can be reused and repurposed in a resource-efficient way.
