The Esch footbridge
(“passerelle”) is the outcome of a search for identity, form and significance.
It aims to confer the city of Esch an intriguing and spectacular construction
(landmark), that seems to float between two worlds. With its furtive forms and
scaleless architecture, it is right at the centre of urban marketing.
Beyond the feelings it
kindles, be they positive or negative, it unleashes a storm of questions. Who
is this bridge, where does it lead to? The access to another world would remain
unknown, if curiosity didn’t push us to take the stairs or use the elevator to
get to the top.Reflecting its
environment, it likes to change its appearance according to its moods. During
daytime, when the weather is fine, it shows itself in a sky-grey dress, whose
rounded edges contrast furiously with the darkness of the woods beyond. When
the weather is more capricious, it withdraws in order to merge with the color
of the sky, and can even disappear during a thick fog. At night, it is more
discreet, as it allows itself to be illuminated by the city lights and the
passing cars and trains.Although – having walked
up its stairs- we way feel unharmed, we have to face the fact that we are now
inside the animal’s guts. Confronted with its purple red color, we feel both
unsettled and reassured. Reassured, because of the reference to the City, its
political orientation, and its connection with the Red Earth area (“Terres
Rouges”). Unsettled, because we are now in the animal’s mouth, seemingly
carried away by a red carpet, inviting us to cross into another world, full of
trees and birds. Even though we are now on
the other side of the bank, we must remain watchful, lest it turns red, to show
that it closes down until dawn.