The present project is about a German-French-Italian-Croatian cooperation in the fields of civil engineering, architecture and design with a focus on the architecture of bridges. After a successful cooperation of German and French schools in the field of architectural history, we would like to extend this European project work and analyse bridges under constructional, architectural and design aspects. The project aims at the realization that bridges connect As concrete products of this project a common Twinspace on the platform etwinning is to be created, which serves as documentation of the individual project phases and is considered an individual product of this cooperation. In addition, the pupils will create Finally, the findings of the analyses of existing bridges are to be used to develop an own design of a bridge and to reconstruct it as a true-to-scale model in order to be able to understand and correctly assess the technical characteristics of these structures. Another important aspect of the present project concept is the promotion of intercultural competence, which leads to the reduction of possible reservations or inhibitions, because in a united Europe it is essential that citizens approach the European partners openly and with interest.
The present project was about a German-French-Italian-Croatian cooperation in the fields of construction technology, architecture and design with a focus on the architecture of bridges. The project aimed at the realization that bridges connect people, both in everyday life and in a figurative sense. the visits aimed at the realization that bridges connect people in Europe, that the history of bridges does not stop at political borders and that architectural styles are witnesses for the continuous mutual influences in Europe over the centuries. The students gained this knowledge by visiting and analyzing notable buildings from the Middle Ages as well as from modern architecture. The architectural tours furthermore served as a basis for the design of architectural signposts, which broadened the students' knowledge about bridges along the centuries and inspired them for their own creations. The findings of the analysis of existing bridges were used to work out one's own design of a bridge and to reproduce it as a scale model in order to grasp and correctly assess the technical features of these structures. Another important aspect of the present project concept was the promotion of intercultural competence, which led to the reduction of any reservations or inhibitions, because in a united Europe it is essential for citizens to approach European partners with an open mind and interest. The students from Germany, Croatia, Italy and France took on the challenge of designing, sketching and building a bridge model, not only using their creative skills but also improving their teamwork and intercultural communication. In each phase of the project, students were divided into mixed groups consisting of members from all four countries. Each group was tasked with developing a bridge model that was not only aesthetically pleasing, but also had to be functional and stable. This required close collaboration and the exchange of ideas across linguistic and cultural boundaries. The students sketched their designs and discussed in detail the materials used. This is where the different cultural perspectives came into play, as each nation brought its own experience and knowledge of construction. The diversity of ideas led to innovative solutions and helped the students strengthen their teamwork. Once the designs were determined, the groups began to implement their models. They worked hard together to build the bridges with care and precision, using materials such as wood, wire, and even recycled items to make their visions a reality. The highlight of the project was the final competition, where the students presented their bridges to an interested audience and a panel of expert judges. This competition not only provided an opportunity for the students to feel proud of their collective work, but also boosted their self-confidence and presentation skills. Overall, the group work between German, Croatian, Italian and French students was an inspiring xperience that not only emphasized the importance of working together across cultural boundaries, but also showed the potential of young people to create amazing things together. It was a project that built bridges not only out of materials, but also between the hearts and minds of the young participants.