Building a permanent bridge over the defensive moat of a 17th century fortress might send the wrong message to an invading army.
So modern-day Dutch engineers have come up with a clever way of disguising the pathway – by building it under the moat’s waterline.
The West Brabant Water Line is a series of defensive fortresses, cities and waterways in Halsteren, the Netherlands.
Jogging on water: The bridge was made using sustainable materials – the wood used is treated with a non-toxic coating that protects it from decay and erosion
After falling into disrepair it had been recently restored, but designers thought it would be inappropriate to go against the original design and build bridges over the moats.
Instead, they came up with an ‘invisible’ bridge that sits within the moat and would allow people to cross virtually undetected from water level’.
The award-winning Moses Bridge – so named as it invokes the biblical image of Moses parting the Red Sea – is now a landmark feature of Fort de Roovere.
Parting the waves: The final architects’ design was the Moses Bridge – so named because it invokes the biblical image of Moses parting the Red Sea – and gives the illusion of people crossing through the moat
From a distance the bridge deceives onlookers into thinking that pedestrians are walking through the water
The trick is achieved by having the sloping walls at the same level as the surrounding body of water
Ad Kil, a spokesman for architects RO&AD, said: ‘The fort now has a new, recreational function and lies on several routes for cycling and hiking.
‘Of course, it is highly improper to build bridges across defensive moats, especially on the side of the fortress the enemy was expected to appear on.
‘That’s why we designed an invisible bridge. Its construction is entirely made of wood, waterproofed with foil
No photoshop: Overcoming the ‘inappropriate’ idea of building a bridge over a defensive moat, modern-day architects decided to go through it
Virtually invisible: From a distance, the approaches to the Moses Bridge, and the submerged structure itself, are far more difficult to see than a conventional bridge
From a greater distance, the bridge is all but invisible
The bridge is an example of how modern technology can enhance historical landmarks and offer a unique and rewarding experience all its own
Inception: The design stage, incorporating a photograph of the site and an artist’s impression of the finished product (and looking remarkably like A-ha’s video for their Eighties hit Take On Me)
‘The bridge lies like a trench in the fortress of the moat, which is shaped to blend in with the outlines of the landscape.
‘The bridge can’t be seen from a distance because the ground and the water come all the way up to its edge.’
He added: ‘When you get closer, the fortress opens up to you through a narrow trench. You can then walk up to its gates like Moses on the water.’
