Katehaki Pedestrian Bridge (Calatrava)
Katehaki Pedestrian Bridge in Athens (© Copyright: calatrava.com)
Katehaki Pedestrian Bridge (Calatrava)
The Spanish-Swiss architect Santiago Calatrava donated several works for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Besides the impressive canopy of the Olympic Stadium and the construction of the Olympic Park in Marousi, the Katehaki Pedestrian Bridge is another architectural masterpiece in Athens.
The Athens Metro Company commissioned Calatrava to build the bridge. It was to make it easier for users of the "Katehaki" metro station to cross the busy Mesogeion Avenue. The single-span diagonal pedestrian bridge with inclined pylon and outer counter-piers was inspired by ancient Greece and the glorious Athenian ships.
The bridge consists of steel and a curved 50-meter high main pylon from which 14 thick steel cables hang down to support the 94-meter long suspended walkway. The pedestrian bridge is accessible via two staircases, which are complemented by two escalators and two elevators, while the elevator in the southeast provides direct access to the metro station.
