Santiago Calatrava has been fined $86,000, by the city of Venice due to “negligence” involved in the design of the troubled 300-foot-long Ponte della Costituzione bridge in the city. The bridge has not won the locals approval either as they have likened the crossing’s appearance to that of “a lobster,”.
Completed in 2008, the project was controversial from the beginning. Protests and heated criticism over its placement rang out upon its announcement in 1999. The biggest issues included its lack of accessibility for wheelchair users, the conflict between its modernist design and the city’s historic scenery, and the fact that it’s located very close to one of the other three walking bridges that span the Grand Canal. Nevertheless, the structure was installed after years of delays for a total of $12.9 million and now leads locals and tourists over the water from a bus terminal (many of them with rolling luggage in tow) in Santa Croce to the Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia.
Photo shows a view of the Calatrava bridge over the Grand Canal in Venice on August 27, 2008. AFP PHOTO/ Sebastiano Casellati (Photo credit should read SEBASTIANO CASELLATI/AFP/Getty Images)
people have also complained about the glass steps. They noted how slippery the stairs get when it rains or the fog descends on Venice in the winter, but Calatrava’s office recently told AN that the steps are “no more slippery than other parts of the city.” In addition to this, due to the bridge’s location in a highly-trafficked area, the steps have become worn-down.
The judge highlighted the gravity of the design flaws due to the fact that they were created “by a highly-esteemed professional who is globally famous, with a long and proven record of building bridges,” the court said.
Responding to criticism of the bridge’s design when it first opened, Calatrava said, “My work is limited to the aesthetic. I had no influence in the selection of the contracting company that built the structure. A lot of things have happened that are out of my hands.”
This isn’t the first time the famed architect has faced problems due to the complexity of his projects and the time it takes to build them. Despite that, bridges are one of his specialties—which is why the fines against him due to the mistakes on the Constitution Bridge are so high, according to the court.
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