At the 45th Assembly of the Slovenian Association of Structural Engineers in Portorož, we will present two lectures. Dr. Viktor Markelj will present the Kristal observation tower, while dr. h. c. Marjan Pipenbaher will discuss the design and construction of the railway viaducts Gabrovica and Vinjan. Both presentations will take place on the first day of the assembly, November 7, 2024.The 106 meters high observation tower with a closed two-storey viewing platform and an open outdoor rooftop observatory officially opened on 23. May 2024. A two-story, symmetric designed observation deck, shaped as an abstract crystal form, houses the cafe, the Panorama floor and the outdoor deck. The tower provides views of Rogaška Slatina and its surroundings and further diversifies the offer of the town, known for its mineral water, health resorts and glassworks.
The Gabrovica Viaduct, with a total length of 452 meters, is designed as a single expansion unit with expansion joints at the abutments. A distinctive feature of this viaduct is the prestressed reinforced concrete U-section superstructure, which spans continuously over seven spans ranging from 52 to 64 meters. It was constructed using the incremental launching method without auxiliary supports. The "U" shape of the superstructure integrates both the load-bearing structure and protection against noise and high-speed bora winds.
The Vinjan Viaduct, with a total length of 650 meters, is designed as a semi-integral frame structure with characteristic spans of 100 meters. A special feature of this structure is its 55-meter-high piers, which are deeply founded on wells up to 40 meters deep, located in an area prone to latent landslides. The superstructure of the viaduct was constructed using the balanced cantilever method.
Viktor Markelj (1958) is a Partner, Managing Director and a Senior Bridge designer of Ponting Bridges. His notable bridges include the Ada Bridge in Belgrade (2012), Puh Bridge in Ptuj (2007), Pedestrian drawbridge in Gdańsk (2017), Bridge over Mura River (2003) and viaducts Lešnica (2007, 2010). A winner of many awards for his engineering expertise and a lecturer that passes the knowledge to future generations at University of Maribor.
Marjan Pipenbaher (1957) is a Partner, Managing Director and a Senior Bridge designer of Ponting Bridges and Pipenbaher Consulting Engineers. His notable bridges include Pelješac Bridge in Croatia (2022), Nissibi Bridge over Euphrates in Turkey (2015), Millennium Bridge in Podgorica (2006), the biggest railway viaduct in Israel (2017) and Viaduct Črni Kal in Slovenia (2004). He is a winner of many awards for his engineering expertise and a lecturer that passes the knowledge to future generations at University of Maribor.
Event details:
- Date: 7. - 8. November 2024
- Location: Grand hotel Bernardin, Portorož, Slovenia
- Viktor Markelj, Rok Mlakar: Observation tower Kristal (7. 11. 2024, 11:30 – 11:45)
- Marjan Pipenbaher, Miran Štern, Tatjana Peteršič: Design and construction of viaduct Gabrovica and Viaduct Vinjan (7. 11. 2024, 12:30 – 12:45)
- Events website
- Complete programme
Project details:
