Why build a straightforward bridge for an unremarkable sum when the same bridge could be built as a circle for vast amounts of money?
A new bridge spanning (or circumnavigating) Laguna Garzón, a coastal lagoon in southeastern Uruguay, poses just that question. [...] At a glance, it’s the sort of ridiculousness that you might expect of a bridge in London.
In fact, there’s a perfectly good functional explanation for it.
— citylab.com
"The concept of the Puente Laguna Garzón was to transform a traditional vehicular crossing into an event that reduces the speed of the cars, to provide an opportunity to enjoy panoramic views of an amazing landscape and at the same time create a pedestrian place in the center," the architect explained the unusual bridge concept.
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25 Comments
Hey, let's build two bridges instead of one! Three times the materials, three times the labor, three times the cost, three times the maintenance and triple the fee. I say put some concrete galoshes on that asshole and toss him in the middle.
+++Miles
Quess we shouldn't expect an architect to know the shortest distance between 2 points.
not really a roundabout.
jerk off exercise
Take a look at the overhead photo in the article, those curves are nasty. Drivers wouldn't be able to go more than 10mph around them... Although maybe that's the point.
"Why build a straightforward bridge for an unremarkable sum when the same bridge could be built as a circle for vast amounts of money?"
Now that is a thesis statement I want to see explored.
this is neat, and certainly the nicest thing ive seen from vinoly.
but then i'm the sort of person who would drive the long way home just for the view.
Why even get an architect involved in the design of a bridge?
It seems the role would be seriously limited. schematic design would require heavy engineer involvement to comment on the feasibility of proposed design: sizes, spans, supports, materials.
There is no architectural component in the deliverable construction documents - a guardrail? All the road surface geometry and plan curves/dimensions/drainage/signage/road paint/lighting and structure are provided by the engineers.
Vinoly draws a split circle shows a team of engineers, gets paid and walks away. Genius.
No guardrails, it would obstruct the view.
This is me:
- - - - - ------shit! \\ Splash //
1. The whole road is a scenic highway.
2. People will be concentrating on making the curve and not enjoying the view.
I do not see the point.
can you reduce all design to the straight line between two points?
I like the design. A lot of the comments here are typically american and value-engineering driven.
Vinoly is no Conde McCullough.
Where's the eloquence aside from the circle. That is about it.
If I were already going to design a more expensive bridge... why not give it the kind of eloquence like you see on these bridges:
https://www.google.com/search?q=Conde+McCullough+bridges&biw=1732&bih=865&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi7npDQt7_KAhUY9mMKHer6Bs4Q_AUICSgD
There are guardrails. It just doesn't show up well on the small picture but it's there.
create pedestrian space? what pavilions? all I see is a boring road plopped into a piece of paradise. Not at all tasteful.
I mean, if this is what excess looks like today, coming from an established practitioner, we're fucked. Proper fucked.
Additional anti-environmental aspect: increases the distance traveled and fuel consumption each way by 50%. Maybe this was sponsored by Shell Oil?
sameolddoctor, you've got it backwards. It's this kind of shit that is typically American.
I've seen this exact same thing done on a pedestrian bridge...Ill have to look for it...
Calatrava? He did a beautiful curved tilting pedestrian bridge. The curve becomes an arch allowing boats to pass.
Yeah, this strikes me as a design made for one specific photograph. It's beguiling in the aerial view, but I can't imagine it's very enjoyable in the physical experience.
If you Google 'circular pedestrian bridge' there are several that are very similar. For a pedestrian bridge it seems like a nice idea...for cars on the other hand it's is a waste of resources with little to no experiential return.
did anyone read the fucking article?
good job, guys.
you deserve rainbow ponies
or at least a room full of horse shit.
there's a rainbow pony in there, i promise.
Did you, or are you just unable to understand it?
It's a gateway to new development, thinly disguised as "ecologically protective" by slowing the vehicle traffic that crosses it. If the lagoon is so sensitive, don't you think 60% less construction would be more important? Or 60% less vehicle pollution?
What is the purpose of having that shape?
Look. Around the ocean ... This walkway for cars ... As we know, walking paths are not straight ...
Look interesting architectural site http://plagiat9.webnode.ru
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