When Engineering Meets Marzipan: The Bridge à la Lübeck!
On Sunday, October 13th, as the good people of Lübeck donned their Sunday best and gathered around the station bridge for its grand inauguration, one might think, “Ah, a solemn event worthy of such architectural marvel!” Well, hold onto your paper hats because things got a bit… crunchy.
Bridges of Paper, Prizes of Marzipan
It all started with a paper bridge competition. Yes, folks, you heard me right! The city, clearly wanting to encourage budding engineers with a delightful twist, invited schoolchildren to construct their best paper bridges, adhering to a strict weight limit of 250 grams and a span of a full 40 centimeters. But there’s a kicker—those bridges weren’t just for show. “As much as the bridge can carry is paid out in marzipan,” instructed the powers that be. Now that’s a motivating factor! Who doesn’t love a bit of marzipan, right? Almost makes you want to build bridges in your living room and invite friends over.
The CAJABU 10th grade NAWI course eagerly got involved, delivering six bridges for battle. They took the bold step of competing in the 7th to 9th grade category, possibly because they thought it would be easier to outsmart some younger rivals—but really, is there any official age discrimination in bridge building? As the suspense built (pun absolutely intended), the results were in, and deadly serious engineers turned into prize-winning confectioners!
Winners and Their Sweet Rewards
In a nail-biting showdown, Iischa, Juliana, and Phil snagged the 3rd place with a bridge capable of holding a whopping 14 kg—a feat impressive enough to draw gasps, while weighing as much as your average cat. Their reward? A cool €50! Not bad for a bridge made out of paper—the gift that keeps on giving, especially when it can carry an entire cat—and you still get money!
Not to be outdone, Villads, Clara, and Jonathan took home the 2nd place, with their bridge withstanding a staggering 19.67 kg. Talk about defying gravity! They walked away with a €100 bounty, enough to buy the equivalent of a small marzipan village. Just imagine the sweet expansion plans!
And let’s not forget our star performer—Iischa, who turned it up a notch. Not only was she part of the 3rd place team, but she also brought in a beauty to snag the title of “Most Beautiful Bridge”. Now, that’s a dichotomy: a bridge so pretty you almost want to frame it! Plus, she got another €50 in prize money. If Iischa were my student, I might insist she takes one of these bridges to the prom as her date!
The Sweet Aftermath
Sure, the bridges met their fate after the load tests—what’s a little crushing disappointment when you’ve garnered a mountain of marzipan? The entire CAJABU bridge team supported around 55 kg. That’s a lot of marzipan! Enough to host a party, or perhaps start a marzipan empire. Don’t worry, kids, they might be paper bridges, but your ambitions weigh more than all that paper combined!
So, what have we learned from this marvelous event? There are two types of people in this world: those who build bridges and those who build marzipan castles from the spoils. And honestly, it seems the real winners here are the confectionery lovers of Lübeck! Each bite of marzipan tastes like victory, with a hint of careful engineering.
Text and images: R. Schacht
On Sunday, October 13th The station bridge was ceremoniously inaugurated by Mr. Lindenau and other city representatives. In order to celebrate this event with the schools, a paper bridge competition was announced at the beginning of the year. Schoolchildren in Lübeck were asked to build paper bridges that could weigh a maximum of 250 g, but should span a full 40 cm. They should also be able to carry a lot because: “As much as the bridge can carry is paid out in marzipan“.
The CAJABU 10th grade NAWI course delivered 6 bridges. We competed in the 7th to 9th grade category because the students were still in 9th grade at the time of submission. Thanks to our good and stable constructions, we were able to win many prizes and marzipan. Iischa, Juliana and Phil received one 3. Platz with its bridge that could hold 14 kg. You will receive €50 in prize money. Villads, Clara and Jonathan also won the 2. Platz with its bridge, which withstood 19.67 kg. You will receive €100 in prize money for all the marzipan.
In a special category, however, Iischa should be congratulated once again. In addition to the already award-winning bridge, she brought a particularly beautiful one into the race. This bridge has in the category “Most beautiful bridge” took 1st place receive. Iischa also receives €50 in prize money.
Unfortunately, the bridges were broken after the load tests, but overall the CAJABU bridges together supported around 55 kg. Our participating students are therefore expecting a large delivery of marzipan.
Text and images: R. Schacht
Interview: Celebrating Creativity and Confectionery – A Look into Lübeck’s Paper Bridge Competition
Interviewer: Good afternoon! Today, we’re joined by Iischa, one of the bright young minds behind the recently held paper bridge competition in Lübeck. Welcome, Iischa!
Iischa: Thank you! I’m excited to be here!
Interviewer: Let’s dive right into it. The competition combined engineering and candy—what an intriguing concept! What inspired you and your classmates to participate?
Iischa: Honestly, the idea of earning marzipan was super motivating! We all love marzipan, and it turned what could have been a serious competition into something really fun. Plus, building a bridge out of paper sounded like a great challenge, so it was a win-win!
Interviewer: You certainly rose to the occasion! Your team won 3rd place and you also took home the award for “Most Beautiful Bridge.” How did it feel to achieve such recognition?
Iischa: It was surreal! I was thrilled to be part of the team that built a bridge holding 14 kg—I mean, that’s impressive for paper! Winning “Most Beautiful Bridge” on top of that was the cherry on top. I never expected to blend engineering and art like that.
Interviewer: You and your team managed to support an impressive 55 kg overall! Did you have a specific strategy when constructing your bridge?
Iischa: Absolutely! We focused on creating a strong base and used lots of folds to add stability. The key was balancing weight and design, which was challenging but really fun. We all learned so much from each other!
Interviewer: And let’s talk about the marzipan rewards! What are the plans for all that sweet loot?
Iischa: [laughs] Well, we’re thinking of having a big marzipan party with our friends. Maybe even create a marzipan castle as a group project! It’s just such a fun way to celebrate our hard work.
Interviewer: That sounds delicious! Looking back, what do you think you learned from this experience, beyond engineering skills?
Iischa: I learned the importance of teamwork and creativity. Building a bridge requires not just technical skills but also working together and brainstorming ideas as a group. Plus, it showed us that learning can be really enjoyable when you throw in a bit of competition and sweets!
Interviewer: Wise words! Last question: If someone wants to join next year’s competition, what advice would you give them?
Iischa: I’d say, don’t be afraid to experiment and be creative. Think outside the box with your design, and definitely have fun with it! And of course, keep your eyes on that marzipan prize!
Interviewer: Thank you, Iischa! Best of luck for your future projects, keep building those bridges—both literally and figuratively!
Iischa: Thank you so much! This has been fun!
Ewards! What are your plans for the marzipan you earned?
Iischa: Oh, we’re definitely planning a big celebration with our marzipan! We might even throw a marzipan-making party where we can experiment with different shapes and flavors. It’s not every day that you earn candy through engineering, right?
Interviewer: That sounds like a blast! Do you think this competition could inspire more young people to pursue engineering or creative projects in the future?
Iischa: Definitely! Combining something as fun as marzipan with engineering makes it feel less intimidating and more accessible. I hope more schools take on projects like this because it shows that learning can be enjoyable and that creativity can play a huge role in engineering.
Interviewer: That’s a fantastic perspective, Iischa! Before we wrap up, is there anything else you would like to share about your experience or challenges during the competition?
Iischa: Just that teamwork was key! We had a few hiccups along the way, like figuring out the right size and shape, but working together made it all worth it. Plus, seeing all the other amazing bridges at the competition was a great reminder of how diverse ideas can be. It was a memorable experience overall!
Interviewer: Thank you so much for sharing your insights and experiences, Iischa! We look forward to seeing what you and your classmates create next!
Iischa: Thank you! I can’t wait to see what future projects bring!
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The interview highlights the creativity and teamwork involved in the competition while also underscoring the fun aspect of merging engineering with a beloved treat like marzipan. If you would like me to tweak anything or focus more on a specific topic, just let me know!
