Introduction

"The Architecture of Bridge Design" is a series of essays on bridges which attempts to articulate the process of conceptual design, the inspiration for an idea and how it has been developed into the final solution. It is not about analysis or structural calculation nor about torsion and deflection of a bridge. It is about exploring the functions of a bridge, defining purpose of place, putting people values in context, the spirit of creativity, impact on the environment, intuitive understanding, reasoned progression of an idea, exploiting material technology and construction innovation, tension between lightness and mass, and between sculpture and scale.