Dalkebruecke Guetersloh, Germany

Lead Designers Matthias Schiminski

Entry Description

The new Dalkebruecke in Guetersloh carries pedestrians and cyclists across the Dalke River and the B61 in a single,ribbon-like gesture. It exemplifies innovation by fusing architecture, engineering, and lighting into one coherent structure. The 40-mm flame-cut Corten steel railing functions simultaneously as balustrade and load-bearing element, defining the bridge’s sculptural form – a structural and design innovation that earned the Dalkebruecke the German engineering award „Ingenieurpreis des Deutschen Stahlbau 2024“.The lighting design translates this principle into a solution of clarity and functionality. A linear LED system, concealed within the ergonomically shaped handrail at 95 cm height, directs light asymmetrically onto the pale deck, which reflects it softly back onto the railing. This ensures safe guidance without glare while preserving the bridge’s transparency.Ecological sensitivity was central: shielding prevents disturbance to flora, fauna, and traffic below, while the warm 3000 K color temperature, DALI dimming,and night-time reduction to 1.5 W/m minimize impact and energy use. Modules were precisely adapted to the curved geometry, ensuring an uninterrupted ribbon of light.By evening, the bridge becomes a warm, golden trace across the landscape- a sculptural gesture where structural invention,ecological care,functional precision, and human comfort flow together

Sustainability Approach

The lighting of the Dalkebruecke prioritizes sustainability and environmental protection in its waterside green setting. Luminaires are designed with fully asymmetrical light distribution, directing illumination exclusively onto the pale deck while shielding the railing, surrounding flora, and water. Extruded PMMA covers include integrated baffles to prevent glare for road users. LED boards feature thermal management and overvoltage protection, ensuring long service life. Standardized, replaceable luminaires run along the entire bridge, with length-adjustment units only at feed points. Night-time dimming reduces output to 1.6 W/m, minimizing energy use and ecological impact. A maintenance package enables rapid replacement in case of early failures or vandalism.

Company Description

We are an independent lighting design studio based in Hildesheim and Hamburg. Our team brings together people with diverse skills, united by a shared passion for light.

To realize complex projects, we rely on a team of specialists who understand how architecture and urban spaces, combined with the right lighting technology and a high degree of sensitivity, can come together to form a harmonious whole