Bridges form the backbone of our society—their true value often becomes clear only in their absence. The collapse of Dresden's Carola Bridge and the temporary closure of the Elbe Bridge in Bad Schandau starkly illustrate this point. Developed by the Institute for Solid Construction at TU Dresden, the exhibition "Reimagining Bridges" explores bridges from multiple angles, examining their profound significance for society. Far more than mere functional connectors, bridges are vibrant places of encounter, gathering, and cultural expression. The exhibition traces how our vision of bridges has evolved across centuries—from symbols of order in antiquity to harbingers of progress during the industrial revolution, and finally to icons of efficiency and mobility throughout the twentieth century.

The exhibition poses an essential question: should every bridge be built simply because we now have the capability? Using Dresden's Augustus Bridge as a case study, it demonstrates how a single structure can transform over centuries. This historical foundation opens space for dialogue about the bridge's modern role and sparks fresh thinking on how to design and engineer bridges that serve both today's needs and tomorrow's challenges. Drawing on national and international projects, the exhibition illustrates how bridges can meaningfully enhance our urban fabric, integrate with natural landscapes, and enrich our everyday surroundings. It also showcases student competition entries for a reimagined Carola Bridge, developed through a design competition at TU Dresden. Additionally, STESAD provides insight into the current planning process, with four independent design firms currently developing proposals.

The supporting programme, backed by German Research Foundation (DFG)-funded initiatives including the Collaborative Research Centre SFB/Transregio 280 "Design strategies for material-minimised carbon concrete structures – foundations for a new way of building" and the priority programmes SPP 100+ "Extending the service life of complex building structures through intelligent digitalisation" and SPP 2255 "Cultural Heritage Construction", deepens key exhibition themes while creating a forum for dialogue. The programme features the official exhibition opening, a film evening exploring bridges worldwide, a discussion on gender equity in planning and construction, a talk on "Building for the future – resource-efficient designs for our cities," and a hands-on workshop during February school holidays where children design, build, and load-test their own bridges.

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