Bridge

Whether a humble string of planks swaying across a trickling stream or the soaring towers of the Golden Gate Bridge, bridges are one of man's great engineering feats. In "Bridge", Peter Bishop provides a comprehensive historical account of their role in the advancement of human culture. From ancient Roman arches to the rail bridge of Lhasa to the suspension bridge over Niagara Falls, we traverse in this book the full span of the globe to examine numerous types of bridges and their diverse architectural styles. "Bridge" includes iconic examples such as the Brooklyn, Sydney Harbour and London's Millennium bridges and 'mega-spans' such as Hong Kong's Tsing Ma Bridge; the integral role of bridges in railroad networks; and the social dynamics of class and mobility that surround urban bridges in cities such as New York. Drawing upon sources in art, politics, science, philosophy and the media, Bishop argues that the cultural meaning of bridges today revolves around the idea of expanding geographical claims, rather than connecting to others, and he explores the implications of that idea for the future. A fascinating and richly illustrated study, "Bridge" will engage enthusiasts of planning, architecture and design alike.

ISBN 1861893469   Pages 224 ISBN13 9781861893468 (What's this?)   Volumes 1 Publisher Reaktion Books   Weight (grammes) 517 Imprint Reaktion Books   Published in London Format Paperback   Series title Objekt Publication date 17 Jun 2008   Height (mm) 208 Library of Congress TG300   Width (mm) 156 DEWEY 725.98   Spine width (mm) 16 DEWEY edition DC22   Academic level General

		Introduction: The Telling of the Bridge		7
1		Technologies of Extension : Burt Creek to Lhasa		62
2		The Technology of Assemblage: Bridges and the Construction of the City		104
3		Technologies of Connection		153
4		Spanning Technologies		181
		References		216
		Select Bibliography		227
		Acknowledgements		232
		Photographic Acknowledgements		233
		Index		235

'... an excellent book, consistently thought-provoking ... it emphasised to me that much of what goes unchallenged by bridge engineers is just the result of our immersion in one of many possible stories about bridges and their creation. This book offers some of those diverse narratives, while making clear that many more remain to be told.' - The Happy Pontist

 Be the first to write a customer review