FIU had grand plans for 'signature' bridge. But the design had a key mistake
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Re: FIU had grand plans for 'signature' bridge. But the design had a key mistake
#2Saw this story via an @EdwardTufte tweet:
https://twitter.com/EdwardTufte/status/1007395311541682176
> A+ This is beautifully executed technical report by the Miami Herald, an instant classic of news reporting. Note that this report is a document not a deck. The FIU admistration loaded the bridge design down with features.
Re: FIU had grand plans for 'signature' bridge. But the design had a key mistake
#3> But FIU's bridge was designed to mimic the dramatic look of a cable-stayed bridge, where the deck is suspended from cables fanning out from a tall mast. In FIGG's design, though, the "cables" — actually metal pipes — were mostly just for show. The diagonal, v-shaped struts of the truss did the structural work.
I've always found it useful to hone in on anything that is done purely for aesthetic reasons.
We build a house recently. I really wanted exposed rafters, there was some complexity around insulation, and the architect responded by proposing some "faux" rafters. The idea was so revolting that it prompted more examination, which identified some mistakes. In the end, a simpler, better, cheaper solution was found that did not have faux elements in it.
Re: FIU had grand plans for 'signature' bridge. But the design had a key mistake
#4Isn’t this the famous “feminist” bridge?
Re: FIU had grand plans for 'signature' bridge. But the design had a key mistake
#5Isn’t this the famous “feminist” bridge?
I've never heard of a feminist bridge, so if it is, it's not that famous.
Re: FIU had grand plans for 'signature' bridge. But the design had a key mistake
#6This is a really good article. Amazing how a dozen+ different things combined to produce the unfortunate result. Perfect case study in there being no such thing as a singular 'root cause'.
Re: FIU had grand plans for 'signature' bridge. But the design had a key mistake
#7There are some parallels with software. Encryption for example. Don't deviate from standard implementations unless you really know what you're doing. And even then, review it and review it again. Preferably by a separate expert.
Re: FIU had grand plans for 'signature' bridge. But the design had a key mistake
#8> But FIU's bridge was designed to mimic the dramatic look of a cable-stayed bridge, where the deck is suspended from cables fanning out from a tall mast. In FIGG's design, though, the "cables" — actually metal pipes — were mostly just for show. The diagonal, v-shaped struts of the truss did the structural work. I've always found it useful to hone in on anything that is done purely for aesthetic reasons. We build a h…
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Re: FIU had grand plans for 'signature' bridge. But the design had a key mistake
#9The Fountainhead
Chapter I; Howard Roark to the Dean
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"Why do you want me to think that this is great architecture?" He pointed to the picture of the Parthenon.
"That," said the Dean, "is the Parthenon!"
"So it is."
"I haven't the time to waste on silly questions."
"All right, then." Roark got up, he took a long ruler from the desk, he walked to the picture. "Shall I tell you what's rotten about it?"
"It’s the Parthenon!" said the Dean.
"Yes, God damn it, the Parthenon."
The ruler struck the glass over the picture.
"Look, " said Roark. "The famous flutings on the the famous columns—what are they there for? To hide the joints in the wood—when columns were made of wood, only these aren't, they're marble. The triglyphs, what are they? Wood. Wooden beams, the way they had to be laid when people began to build wooden shacks. Your Greeks took marble and they made copies of their wooden structures out of it, because others had done it that way. Then your masters of the Renaissance came along and made copies in plaster of copies in marble of copies in wood. Now here we are, making copies in steel and concrete of copies in plaster of copies in marble of copies in wood. Why?"
Re: FIU had grand plans for 'signature' bridge. But the design had a key mistake
#10They spent way too much of other people's money to build something that wasn't sound. There's blame all around here.