Form & Function
Expression of Truth and Beauty
One of the most fundamental ideas in architecture is the relationship between form and function of a structure. Ultimately, the shape and appearance of a structure may transform depending on the required needs of the project. In this project, we explore this idea by attempting to incorporate a moving component into an existing bridge design. We studied how the new feature changed the configuration of the design.
Span Prototypes
Tokyo Gate Bridge
Sydney Harbor Bridge
Rio-Antirrio Bridge
Movement Analogy
The movement of these objects is intended to act as the means for opening the roadbed for boats or other water traffic to pass. They must be incorporated into the prototype designs to provide a 30'x40' gap in the span of the bridge.
Combination Table
Preliminary Design
To accommodate the movement of the device I created a channel that cuts through the original truss. Through this channel will run a long gear that is pulled up by rollers. This will cause the rotation of another gear that is connected to the lifting roadbed.
This design illustrates the central theme of this project: form follows function. Because of the need for this channel, the remaining parts of the design transform around it.
MechaniSM
Design Process
Final Design
Elevation Views
3d Views
Final Animation
