The Puente de la Mujer, one of the icons of the Puerto Madero neighbourhood, is the first work in Latin America by the renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and represents another sign that the City is at the forefront of art and architecture throughout the region.
It is also an impressive engineering project: thanks to the fact that it has one of the largest swing mechanisms in the world, this pedestrian swing bridge opens to give way to the sailing boats that sail along the docks of Puerto Madero. Through the Puente de la Mujer, you can walk across the Dique 3 of Puerto Madero from Alicia Moreau de Justo Avenue to Olga Cossettini.
But there's more: both the steel and all its components were manufactured in the city of Vitoria, south of Bilbao, Basque Country, and transported to Buenos Aires to be assembled here.
Did you know that it represents the image of a couple dancing the tango? The white mast symbolizes the man and the curved silhouette of the bridge, the woman.
First comprehensive renovation
In 2022, a major refurbishment work was carried out. The old, worn-out floorboards were replaced with sustainable strips made from recycled plastic. One hundred thousand Love Bottles were transformed into five tonnes of the perfect material for a new floor. First, the existing wood was removed and the structure was thoroughly cleaned by hydro-cleaning to remove any possible contaminants. Then, the surface was protected with anti-corrosion paint and the new sustainable wooden deck was laid. To achieve this surface, the equivalent of two Olympic size swimming pools filled with containers was required.
The sustainable material is beneficial because it is more durable, resistant to corrosion, moisture, climate change and pests. In addition, it does not splinter and requires less maintenance than traditional wood.
On the other hand, the paint was reinforced on the nearly 40-metre high mast.
Numbers and curiosities
- It was officially inaugurated in December 2001.
- It has a body covered in sustainable wood, 160 metres long, and an inclined obelisk 39 metres high, supported by several tensors, which gives it the shape of a large harp.
- Its central rotating movable section opens and allows boats to pass through.
- Couples often leave padlocks clinging to the railing as a gesture of immortalising their union. As the weight and rust can damage the structure, a large number of kilos of metal are removed from time to time.