Bridging Form and Function

David Sucher argues that France's spectacular new bridge is not just a feat of engineering -- it's architecture. "...I'd suggest that it qualifies as architecture, maybe even top-notch architecture..." Brian Micklethwait wonders about the reason for building the bridge: "Economically it looks crazy to me. A few more curves on the road and they could surely have saved themselves billions."

1 minute read

December 16, 2004, 12:42 PM PST

By Abhijeet Chavan @legalaidtech

David Sucher argues that France's spectacular new bridge is not just a feat of engineering -- it's architecture.

"...I'd suggest that it qualifies as architecture, maybe even top-notch architecture..."

Brian Micklethwait wonders about the reason for building the bridge:

"Economically it looks crazy to me. A few more curves on the road and they could surely have saved themselves billions."

Most of the photosgraphs I have seen of the bridge showcase its elegant structural beauty against a dramatic landscape. The photos of the bridge's slender towers soaring up from a fog-shrouded valley are indeed spectacular. As opposed to photos that focus on the bridge's form, Brian also linked to a photograph that shows the function of the bridge. It is a photograph of the bridge from the air during construction and it shows the terrain over which the bridge spans.

Here are both photos together, each illustrating a different aspect of the bridge.

France's new bridge (Times Online)

Source: Times Online

Source: France from the Air

Abhijeet Chavan

Abhijeet Chavan is the co-founder and former co-editor-in-chief of Planetizen and the executive producer of Planetizen Courses. He was also the chief technology officer of Urban Insight, Inc., the technology consulting firm that operates Planetizen. Abhijeet Chavan has over 20 years of technology consulting experience working with government, higher education, legal services, and non-profit clients.

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

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