The metallic bump in the middle of the Mur River is the new drawing card of Graz, the current star of this city's ongoing celebration as the Cultural Capital of Europe for 2003 (perhaps now surpassed in notoriety by the new Kunsthaus designed by Peter Cook and Colin Fournier). The 900-year history of Graz starts anew with this Island in the Mur, which has appeared in many cutting-edge architecture and design magazines recently.

Vito Acconci designed the slick Island, which is his first major architectural project after years of being regarded as a noted conceptual artist. The steel structure consists of an open-air amphitheater, a cafe, a small playground for kids, and several walkways linking it to the riverside. Its captivating design is like a Rorschach test, as its visitors have labeled it a snail, clam shell, ark, etc.,. The work draws a steady stream of curious admirers, but alas its presence in nature also brings the unwelcome presence of small flying insects.

Stroll through the Island and then walk around it along the nearby bridges and river banks to enjoy it from many different vantage points. In the daytime, the boldly beguiling pavilion contrasts decidedly with the bucolic mountain scenery in the background. At night, the blue-green lighting scheme designed by French artist Laurent Fachard illuminates the Acconci Studio’s Island so that it interacts with its immediate townscape, as the mountains have disappeared into the dusk.

Just south of the Island in the Mur is the Mursteg footbridge, designed by Gunther Domenig and Hermann Eisenkock in 1992. This suspension bridge spans about 170 feet between Mariahilferplatz and Schlossbergplatz and is fit for pedestrians, bicyclists, and sometimes a panhandler. A steel girder supports the bridge, with its western end shooting outward in a distinctive pointy spike. The bridge does tend to vibrate with some foot traffic, so taking a photo from here involves a bit of patience.