View from the Porta Westfalica Bridge to the Phoenix Area

The Porta Westfalica Bridge in Dortmund-Hörde, built in 2012, is an elegant steel structure with a span of approximately 92 meters – making it the longest of seven steel bridges connecting the Phoenix Park site. It connects the disused industrial area of Phoenix West to Phoenix Lake, spanning the renaturalized Emscher River – a connection between past and present that is both functionally and symbolically significant.Architecturally, the bridge is striking due to its delicate support system: curved steel struts form a light, almost floating structure resting on massive concrete pillars. This combination consciously reflects the site's industrial heritage – steel and concrete combine to create a modern expression of urban engineering.A special highlight is the dynamic lighting concept: tunable white lighting has illuminated the structure for several years. During day and night cycles, the bridge gently alternates between cool and warm tones (ranging from approximately 2700K to 6000K), transforming it into an illuminated, sculptural element after dark. The undersides of the steel girders are deliberately highlighted, lending the structure additional sculpturalness and creating a distinctive nighttime silhouette.