Underwater bridge by Ro&Ad architects recreates attacker’s eye view of fort
This bridge crosses the moat to Fort de Roover in Halsteren, Noord-Brabant, which was part of a series of defences called the West Brabant Water Line.
Gizmodo writes, “it is made from sustainable Accoya wood treated with a non-toxic waterproof coating that protects it from decay, and since the moat is too shallow for boat traffic, there’s little risk of waves splashing up over the side.”
The bridge made the shortlist for the Building of the Year Award 2011 (which was ultimately won by the parking garage of the Windesheim College in Zwolle).
Water lines were defences that worked using inundation. Large tracts of lands were flooded, making them impassable to advancing armies. The West Brabant Water Line is the oldest of the country and was built in 1628. The main function of later water lines was to maintain the province of Holland as a national redoubt. The introduction of the tank in modern warfare put a stop to their use.
(Photo: ro-ad.org. See there for more photos, or follow the Gizmodo link.)
I saw this image on a random image site and shared it on MLKSHK.com last week.
I seriously thought this was a photo of a film set or theme park where they were going to recreate the parting waters of the Red Sea.
I should have known it was just another Dutch architecture folly.