Two of the best structures in the world constructed
during the past two years are located in Croatia. The first is
the suspension bridge at Skradin and the second is the Sea
Organ that is already famous far and wide and has become
one of the symbols of the city of Zadar.
These are, admittedly, only nominations in various categories
for the CEMEX Award, the so-called “Concrete Oscarsâ€.
Which structures will become award winners will be known in
early November when an international panel of judges in the
Mexican city of Montevideo will announce the best projects
in the individual categories.
The Skradin bridge is located on the newly constructed Zagreb
– Split highway and is running in the category of infrastructural
structures, while Zadar’s Sea Organ, already
winner in Barcelona of the prestigious European award for
urban public areas, is competing in the public areas category.
The “suspension†bridge in Skradin features a massive concrete
arch stretching across some 200 metres and is very
attractive because of its exceptional location and because of
the unbelievable view that shoots out from it – to one side of
the green canyon of the Krka River and the city of Skradin
itself, and to the other side of Lake Prokljansko, which has
made the bridge the chief viewpoint in the area.
Unlike the bridge, which is a type of structure that appears
around the world, the Sea Organ is something quite different.
This is a real organ built into a staggered concrete waterfront.
It are about 70 metres long with a total of 35 pipes
in the concrete through which air flows playing a melody that
is dictated by the activity of the sea and wind and can be
enjoyed day and night by people out for a stroll on the waterfront.
Zadar’s waterfront has, thanks to this original project, become
a new meeting place for both tourists and the people of
Zadar itself.
City of Skradin Tourist Board
e-mail: tz-skradin@si.htnet.hr
web site: http://www.skradin.hr
City of Zadar Tourist Board
e-mail: tzg-zadar@zd.htnet.hr
web site: http://www.zadar.hr/zadar
taken from Journalist Web

