Structural and Architectural Design of Bridges

Bridge design is the essence of engineering, the essence of what David Billington calls "structural art". The elegance and beauty of a bridge come from its structural efficiency expressed in shapes that are in agreement with its particular site. Art and architecture must become part of the engineer's professional culture, more than calculating crack openings and code writing. Designing is not computing; designing is selecting adapted shapes for an efficient and agreeable flow of forces with elegance and beauty. The article presents some examples of bridges which have been considered aesthetically successful.