Ongoing Calgarians complaining about pedestrian bridges thread

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Ben_in_Canada

I finally saw this bridge for the first time on the weekend.
Looks like a large chinese finger trap

I would have rather seen a scaled down version of the centre st bridge, lions and all.

And how would you make a scaled down version of the centre street bridge with no piers in the water?

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by Ben_in_Canada

I finally saw this bridge for the first time on the weekend.
Looks like a large chinese finger trap

I would have rather seen a scaled down version of the centre st bridge, lions and all.

Wow, you know, now that you mention it, it kind of does!
I wonder why no one has noticed/mentioned that yet?

[jayswin]

Wait, I just thought of something.





lol.

[Ozy_Flame]

lol . . . Pretty sure that was the general reaction when the designs first came out - "Chinese finger trap." A couple years late!

[ranchlandsselling]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

People got over it. You will too.

Geez, I hope so, expensive bridge if it's only decorative!

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Why do you think it should blend in? Isn't it nice to have structures that can stand out and not just melt into the background?

I guess it all depends on your definition of standing out includes standing out for the wrong reasons. This bridge doesn't stand out for it's architectual brilliance or beauty. This stands out because it looks odd and well like a Chinese finger trap. I know that get's old but that's what happens when you design a bridge that does in fact look like a Chinese finger trap.

[jayswin]

This thread feels a Flames thread, with Erick Estrada acting the way he does in Flames threads.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I guess it all depends on your definition of standing out includes standing out for the wrong reasons. This bridge doesn't stand out for it's architectual brilliance or beauty.

No foot print in the river, it spans the Bow River without touching the water... From that stand point alone it stands out.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Elegant geometry used to join two sides together...hmmm...what a strange coincidence.

[nik-]

yay, we're back to the finger trap thing again. The ghost of Rick Bell strikes again.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Ben_in_Canada

I would have rather seen a scaled down version of the centre st bridge, lions and all.

So basically you want a smaller twin version of a current structure?

Boy, if this doesn't sum of the annoyingly narrow and simple view towards architecture in Calgary I don't know what does. I'm honestly surprised we haven't built a twin Calgary Tower.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

So basically you want a smaller twin version of a current structure?

Boy, if this doesn't sum of the annoyingly narrow and simple view towards architecture in Calgary I don't know what does. I'm honestly surprised we haven't built a twin Calgary Tower.

We are:

[Muta]

The irony in the design is that it is one of Calatrava's most conservative and low-key bridges he's designed. And yet some people still bitch about how wild it is.

In architecture, this bridge is a resounding success. Why? Because whether people like or hate it doesn't actually matter. It's being discussed, and its engaging conversation amongst others. That's what architecture strives to do - bring about discussion in design, technology, trends and the social fabric of society.

I like this bridge, and not because it's my favourite piece of architecture - I like it because it is different, it stands out (for Calgary, anyways) and I know that I'll always enjoy looking at it when I drive by it on Memorial (especially at night, the lighting on the bridge was extremely well done).

People generally don't like new and different things, especially architecture in conservative societies. Look at the Sydney Opera House for an example - after that unique building was constructed, and costs went way overboard, the architect was run out of the country - literally. It was ahead of its time. Now, it's one of the most recognized and iconic buildings in the world, and a massive acheivement in architecture given its complex design.

hulkrogan's post about the Centre Street Bridge could not be more applicable, true and accurate to the Peace Bridge. The Centre Street bridge is now an icon in Calgary, and people will grow to like this new one.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by flameswin

This thread feels a Flames thread, with Erick Estrada acting the way he does in Flames threads.

Which is what exactly? Not blending in with the sheep? Well yeah. I am my own person with my own opinions. What exactly is your point? It's a lot easier to come up with an attacking post like yours than it is to express your opinion in a constructive manner.

[Muffins]

I think this thing will look great once it gets that nice layer of bird poop on the windows.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Muta

The irony in the design is that it is one of Calatrava's most conservative and low-key bridges he's designed. And yet some people still bitch about how wild it is.

Visually it may be low-key, but I can assure you that the engineering required to design the thing is certainly not low key.

People can say what they want about how it looks, but the quality of design and engineering is not up for debate.

Let's consider the Deerfoot bridge over the Bow river, south of the 22x. Those girders are about 63 metres long (approximately half as long as the peace bridge). They are also something like 4 metres tall of solid concrete. I think pedestrian bridges are required to support virtually as much load as a road bridge is. Can you imagine the girders that would have been required to span clear across the river? And how in the world would you propose to make such a bridge look good.

Now let's remember that nearly the entirety of the peace bridge was made from flat sheets of steel. There's no extruded pieces (I beams or Box beams, etc) that are preengineered. THe flat sheets of steel had to be cut, bent at an unconstant rate (since the bridge is oval shaped), and twisted at an unconstant rate (again to fit the diagonal pattern and the oval shape), and then welded together to make what appears to be an oval tube with diamond holes punched out. All of that has to be engineered from scratch (most designs you have at least some preengineered peices, whether it be girders, cables, whatever. And all of that weight distribution comes down to one point on either end.

Oh, you won't find the electrical panels, conduits, etc sitting beside the bridge either, as you might normally find on a regular bridge, because the electrical rooms are hidden in the foundations, and the steel has been designed with all of the wiring, etc, in mind as well.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Not blending in with the sheep? Well yeah. I am my own person with my own opinions.

You mentioned before that the majority of people did not want it (highly dubious statement, but let's say it's true). You being one of them. So which is it, are you part of the sheeple or against them?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Table 5

You mentioned before that the majority of people did not want it (highly dubious statement, but let's say it's true). You being one of them. So which is it, are you part of the sheeple or against them?

I don't live my life simply to go against the grain, be different nor do I aspire to be like my neighbors. If my opinion conforms to popular belief that's not by design, it's what happens to anyone when the answer to the question is yes or no as you have a 50% chance to be in a majority. My point was more to Flameswin's post about how I act in Flames threads which is not to necessarily agree with popular opinion.

This bridge is a sham. It was shamefully concocted by city hall. It stands for everything I hate in politics so I will never be in support or agreement with it.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

This bridge is a sham. It was shamefully concocted by city hall. It stands for everything I hate in politics so I will never be in support or agreement with it.

You know, as someone who works in architecture... I'm actually not mad of the way the City handled this. They actually had the BALLS to go out and single-source a QUALITY AND WELL-KNOWN BRIDGE DESIGNER.

This is the same muncipal government that RFP's 99.9999999% of the work it requires. Anyone in the industry knows how complex these RFP's can get.

Props to them.

We didn't get a chance to design the bridge, but you know what? Who cares. Calatrava is a bridge legend, and will likely produce something more discussion-worthy than most others can. Besides, everyone got a chance on the St. Partrick's Island Bridge, which people seem to forget.

I actually give the City of Calgary credit for the way the Peace Bridge bridge was delivered... but I do know that I'm probably in the extreme minority on this one.

[nik-]

^ I don't have a problem with looking at someone's resume and deciding they're right for the job.