No. 3.The Bridge between People - 1st fib SymposiumProceedings Vol. 1 - 12-15 October 1999 - Prague, Czech Republic PDF format
Constructing a bridge is a major intervention to an existing infrastructure and to the environment. lt is the duty of owners, bridge designers and architects to build bridges, which are worthy of our civilisation and culture, structures whose elegance and integration defy the passage of time. This paper aims at showing that constructing an aesthetic and well balanced bridge is not synonymous with high cost. lt describes the expression of aesthetic, of the different parameters and criteria which should be respected to achieve elegant structures.
The construction of bridges is a permanent withness to the evolution of society and technology. However, the underlying motivations and general principles of bridge construction have remained unchanged over time. A military engineer and architect named Vitruvius, who served under Julius Caesar, stated that the art of construction is characterized by three fundamental principles: firmitas (strength and stability), utilitas (functionality and usefulness), and venustas (elegance and beauty).
Today, the challenge remains essentially the same, with the addition of a new parameter that is equally demanding and essential: economic efficiency.
Methods and techniques have evolved, but the objectives remain constant. To construct a bridge is, first and foremost, to meet a need—to connect two points through a fixed and permanent physical link. Consequently, it represents a significant intervention within existing infrastructure, organized communication networks, and, above all, the environment. This responsibility carries far-reaching implications.
While methods exist to assess the socio-economic and environmental impacts of creating a new link, the same cannot be said for evaluating visual and aesthetic impact, which remains highly subjective and closely tied to changing trends and social evolution. Therefore, while fulfilling its functional purpose, a new bridge must also respect existing constraints and structures—and ideally enhance them. It should enable both its users and nearby communities to enjoy an improved daily experience and a higher quality of life.
