English Language Newsletter

Bridges as Structural Art by Miguel Rosales showcases twenty-five iconic bridges designed by Rosales and his firm, Rosales +. The book highlights the firm’s distinctive blend of architectural sensitivity, engineering expertise and effective communication enabling the creation of technically innovative and cost-effective bridge designs. These transformational structures have become a source of pride in their communities, and stand as tangible expressions of the art of bridge design.

Structurae has cataloged almost 5,800 bicycle and pedestrian bridges located in over XX countries on six continents. These include all structural types such as suspended or cable-stayed footbridges as well as all materials from timber and masonry to concrete, steel and composite materials.

The climate emergency is the biggest single crisis affecting all life on this planet that has occurred for centuries. Opinions differ as to the extent and severity of the crisis, but there is no doubt that the world is going through extraordinary and traumatic climatic changes brought about largely by mankind’s ill-considered actions since the industrial revolution. As we know, construction contributes a considerable part of the problem in the form of greenhouse gas emissions which lead to global heating of the planet, and as those involved and partly responsible for those contributions, we have a vital role to play in turning the situation around and finding the right solutions to prevent global catastrophe. What is clear is that just making minor adjustments to a business-as-usual approach to design and construction will be nothing like enough. Radical changes are needed across the whole spectrum of construction sector activity, and these will not be easy to implement. But such changes are certainly needed, and they are needed fast.

Failures of structures occur in all parts of the world as the result of design errors, construction defects, abuse or misuse, ageing and deterioration of the structure, lack of maintenance, as well as environmental effects such as wind, flood, snow, earthquake and, of course, human errors. They can result in catastrophic human costs as well as heavy financial losses to all involved, including local economic growth deceleration, expensive delays and repairs, as well as other repercussions, such as legal actions to responsible parties.