Connection - Footbridges
 
Thesis
    Statement
    Concepts
    inspirations
    connection
       introduction
       sundial
       windmill
       waterwheel
       a planted tree
       footbridges
       dragon
       the path
       conclusion
    vocabulary
    Precedents
    Site
    Programme
    Scratch Pad

EcoResearch

Bibliography

Portfolio


    Wood, stone, steel, or concrete - a footbridge speaks of materiality and tactility.  Our sense of touch is engaged as our feet walk along its hard deck.  Wood creates a drum beat from our soles.  We can hold on to the railings and look out to view our surroundings.  The materials show their age and use.

The city, however, does not tell its past, but contains it like the lines of a hand, written in the corners of the streets, the gratings of the windows, the banisters of the steps, the antennae of the lightning rods, the poles of the flags, every segment marked in turn with scratches, indentations, scrolls.
(Calvino, pg. 11)

    Constructing with quality materials ensures that they endure and age with dignity and beauty.  The patina that covers copper and other metals speaks of time.  The rounded edges of stone steps show years of faithful use and draw the imagination to think about who once may have used them.  Aged materials take on character with time.  When designing, careful selection of materials and assembly methods can create something easy to repair and durably handsome with age.  Old squares with stone benches, parks with stone bridges, a boardwalk at the edge of a river, the façade of heritage buildings have these characteristics because they were built with quality materials.
    Much like a tree, durable construction links us with our past and is a visible manifestation of our culture and values.  I have found that cheap materials only look good when they are new, but as soon as they begin to age, they lose their sheen and simply look worn-out.  This creates demands to replace them, but with each iteration of replacement, landfills get fuller and resources are used to provide the new veneers.  Long-lasting materials mean less replacement and therefore fewer demands on the environment for resources.