As constructions which impact our individual and collective lives, bridges find place as metaphors in our language and even in nursery rhymes. By bringing together different disciplines of art and science, the design of bridges creates icons at scales, both large and small. A highly visible construct, the bridge can symbolize events and mark progress. Architects and designers often need to evaluate and communicate the returns from these costly constructions to financiers and other stakeholders.
Bridges at the convergence of art and technology
From a functional perspective, the bridge is required to use technology to defy gravity and leap across physical barriers. But most physical barriers like rivers, water bodies and valleys create highly dramatic settings. Given the high visibility enjoyed by bridges, it is impossible to ignore the aesthetics of their design.
Bridges have come a long way from being raw engineering structures which only addressed the technical aspects of the spanning requirements. Architectural contribution, if any, was an afterthought and expressed by way of ornamentation and decoration. But the most notable bridges are initiated by the seamless integration of art and technology. In fact, as in the case of Santiago Calatrava, both the engineering and architectural aspects of the bridge are attributed to the same designer. Calatrava’s bridges are marveled not only for their technical ingenuity but also their expressive forms.
The Webb Bridge over the Yarra River in Melbourne resulted from collaboration between architects Denton Corker Marshall and artist Robert Owen and is a part of the public art project in Melbourne’s Docklands Area.
Varying scales of icons
The unmistakable profile of bridges like the London Bridge and the Sydney Harbour Bridge has resulted in them becoming emblems of these cities. Their strong association with the city has made these bridges more of a destination rather than a route. Postcards, memorabilia and even tourist photographs are testimony to this strong association between the bridge and the city.
However the iconic status need not only be the privilege of giant constructions. The Floral Street Bridge, Covent Garden spans only 10 metres across a street. The fluid design by Wilkinson Eyre Architects addresses the significance of connecting the Royal Opera House with the Royal Ballet School and has become an architectural landmark.
Small-scale pedestrian bridges are far richer in detail since they address the experience of moving slowly by foot. The choice of materials, compositions and attention to details are geared towards creating interest for the pedestrian and cyclist. Not just visual icons, these bridges also support social interaction, gaining significance in the local community.
Bridges may also be designed to signify an event. The London Millennium Bridge, a 325m steel suspension bridge for pedestrians was a part of the development built to mark the millennium. By commemorating an event, these bridges become visual markers of the collective memory of a people.
Expressive aspects of bridges
Iconic character of bridges can have a role beyond the functional and aesthetic. Architecture has often been employed to convey themes as that of spirituality, hope and power. While bridges are an integral part of the city’s infrastructure, they are also most effective as structures which typify progress and development. By opening routes of communication, bridges make an inclusionary gesture. This is often used to announce entries to new areas or those undergoing rejuvenation. The striking design of Zaha Hadid’s Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Abu Dhabi is expected to be a catalyst and marker of the city’s growth.
Challenges in iconic bridge design
As costly structures, an iconic bridge design will need to justify its cost and face competition from plain solutions which could adequately serve its functional purpose. Iconic bridges spark interest in developments and have the potential of attracting human capital and businesses. Evaluating, quantifying and communicating the benefits of investing in iconic design is the biggest challenge that architects and bridge designers face.
Sources:
Brown David J. Bridges: Three Thousand Years of Defying Nature: Octopus Publishing Group Limited, 1998.
Blockley David. Bridges – The Science and Art of the World’s Most Inspiring Bridges: Oxford University Press, 2010.
Hart Sara: Architects Discover Bridge Design Can Be the Perfect Union of Art and Science, Architectural Record, 2004, June: McGraw Hill Companies.
Stephens Suzanne: Iconic Connections, Architectural Record, 2004, June: McGraw Hill Companies.
Anamika Mishra - Anamika holds a Master's degree in Urban Design with extensive experience in architectural and planning projects.
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