Vebjørn Sand Da Vinci Project

The Constantinople Bridge (Leonardo da Vinci's design) in Ås is a Norwegian pedestrian and cycle bridge over the E18 highway that brings to life an idea Leonardo sketched more than five centuries ago. It stands about 20 km from Oslo, in the municipality of Ås, and is one of the more unusual engineering structures in this part of Norway.

Where does the idea come from?

Around 1502-1503, Leonardo da Vinci drew up a plan for a bridge across the Golden Horn in Constantinople, today's Istanbul. The intended patron was Sultan Bayezid II. The design called for a very slender, flat arch roughly 360 metres long, far longer than anything built in that era. The sultan judged the undertaking impossible, and the bridge was never built.

Who built the Norwegian version?

The sketch was revived by Norwegian artist Vebjørn Sand. After seeing Leonardo's drawing in the mid-1990s, he lobbied the Norwegian public roads authority to carry it out. The architecture came from Selberg Arkitektkontor, with engineers developing the structure. The bridge opened in 2001 and was inaugurated by Queen Sonja.

What does the bridge in Ås look like?

It is a scaled-down version built from a different material than the original concept. Instead of a stone arch, it uses three glued-laminated timber beams that sweep in an arc over the motorway. It is about 108 metres long, with a longest span of roughly 40 metres. Its distinctive shape, widening toward the supports, keeps the proportions of the Renaissance master's drawing.

Can you visit it?

The bridge is part of a walking and cycling route over the E18, so it is in everyday use. It makes a good short stop: you can look down on the highway from the deck, and the arch is best appreciated from the side. The coordinates are approximately 59.7189 N, 10.7843 E.

Frequently asked questions

Is the bridge in Ås the same one planned for Istanbul? No. The Istanbul bridge was never built. The Ås bridge is a scaled realisation of the same idea, in another material and at a much smaller size.

Who initiated the project? Norwegian artist Vebjørn Sand, who interested the road authorities in the design.

What is it made of? Three glulam timber beams forming an arch over the road.

How big is it? About 108 metres long, with a longest span of around 40 metres.

Where is it? Over the E18 in Ås, about 20 km from Oslo.

For anyone interested in engineering history and architecture, it is a striking example of how a drawing from five centuries ago can finally be realised in another country and with different technology.