For his second signature bridge in Dublin, Santiago Calatrava sought inspiration from the shape of a harp – a historical and prominent symbol of Ireland. Envisioning steel cables as the harp’s strings, the architect was able to infuse modern elements with traditional significance. The result is a bridge that both functionally and aesthetically pays homage to the city of Dublin and its people. From a functional standpoint, Calatrava wanted to create a structure that would reduce vehicular traffic in the city center without disturbing maritime passage. Therefore, the bridge features four lanes for traffic with cycle tracks and pedestrian paths on either side, as well as room for trams (to be implemented in the future). Furthermore, the bridge has the ability to rotate 90° horizontally in order to allow ships to pass.