Bridge of Peace

This bridge on the Mtkvari river links the ancient historic centre of Tblisi, to the east, with a park on the west side from which the new city begins.
A monument to dialogue between past and present, the bridge is composed of a pedestrian walkway and a sinusoidal roof supported by four forked pillars. Crossing the two main roads that skirt the Mtkvari, the footbridge is accessible both from upstream, at the raised floor level, and from the riverside embankments by means of four flights of steps. The roof, which combines architecture and engineering, appears as a single membrane resulting from a framework of steel tubes clad with trapezoidal glazed panels. The shape of its shell-like structure – a recognisable icon of the city – also indicates its stability. On the centre line, the bridge widens into a “plaza” from which citizens and tourists can enjoy a splendid view of Tblisi: an ideal place for meeting, recreation and cultural exchange. Thus from the presidential palace, the cathedral or the city’s suburbs extending along the valley, the bridge is seen as an emblematic landmark.