Tampere Readers Propose Melting Patosilta Love Locks into Coins, Sculpture
Readers want the thousands of padlocks on Patosilta turned into public artwork — coins, a small statue or a 'love lump' — before the bridge is renovated, while the city says the locks' fate is undecided and owners should remove their own where possible.
"Could we melt them into a lucky coin with Patosilta's image?" one reader asked, suggesting a creative end for the thousands of padlocks attached to the bridge. Readers of Moro magazine told Aamulehti they want the locks turned into public artwork before the bridge goes into renovation next year.
Suggestions range from casting a small statue or a 'love lump' to building a love tree, embedding poem plaques in the paving, or melting locks into coins sold for charity. Others proposed salvaging sections of the railing or creating a metal arch or rose pavilion in Hatanpää Arboretum to keep the site's memories alive.
Construction engineer Jukka Rantala said the city has not decided the locks' fate and urged owners to remove their own where possible. The existing railings and attached locks will be taken down during the renovation, and the new bridge will not include places for locks.
Catch the full story over at Aamulehti
