The role of culture in civil engineering design Available to Purchase

This paper explores the role of culture in the design of civil engineering works, particularly bridges. It is necessary to start by clarifying the use of the word ‘culture’ in this context because it is used in different ways. Its role is explored in a number of discussions of different historic examples. These then act as a backdrop for a discussion of the extent to which culture can and does affect decisions being made by designers today and what is an appropriate culture to draw on when such decisions are being made. It is suggested that there is some degree of current consensus for a design approach, referred to in this paper as ‘long-wave design’, which has links with many admired works from the past.