Have you ever taken the high-speed train from Rome to Milan? If yes, you have probably noticed during the trip, in the Emilia region, a series of specific steel structures that have caught your attention. Starting from the white metal “waves” of the AV Mediopatana station in Reggio Emilia and continuing along the three bridges of the A1. Two of them, of the cable-stay type, cannot be overlooked as they rest on a branch of the hyperbola. The remainder is a curving type with a low street that crosses the railroad tracks instead. These are also strictly white like the station. What do these works have in common?
The answer is: All of them bear the signature of the Spanish Orchistar (but naturally Swiss) Santiago Calatrava is world-renowned for his organic design work. Characterized by elegant and sinuous forms, everything is often derived from nature and conceptually dynamic. Calatrava is known not only for these works designed in Italy (in Rome, for the record, the “Vele” complex is part of the unfinished Città dello Sport), but also for projects scattered around the world. His complete masterpiece, beginning with the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia.
Countless structures and infrastructures including railway stations, airports, various campuses, museums, towers, theaters and bridges were designed by the Spaniards. It is precisely in this last structural typology that Calatrava distinguished himself, particularly with his arched bridges and cable-stayed bridges in Lower Street. (not surprisingly, the same type as Reggio Emilia), all stark white.
It is very specific Method of action (or is plannedif desired) of Archunar However, one work is missing, the Peace Bridge in Calgary, Canada. Compared to Calatrava’s army of white flies, let’s try to find out what makes this white… hmmm black fly!
Structural features of Peace Bridge
The Peace Bridge is a pedestrian and bicycle bridge located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It crosses the Bow River and connects the north and south sides of the city centre. The bridge was designed by the famous Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, officially launched in March 2012, it celebrated its eleventh birthday a few days ago. Apart from the specific shape, the first thing that strikes you is the name of the work, Bridge of Peace (literally “Ponte della Pace”). it is a A tribute to Calgary’s longstanding reputation as a city of peace and as a symbol of the city’s commitment to promoting peaceful coexistence among its citizens.
The Peace Bridge is a unique and amazing piece of architecture and engineering A white-red steel structure similar to a propeller or a DNA strand. The bridge is 126 meters long and 6 meters wide and has been designed following strict requirements, with no substructure in the water and a low height above the free surface of the river. It is wheelchair accessible, with gentle ramps and handrails to assist those with mobility issues.
A high-strength welded steel frame forms two intertwined helices around an elliptical cylinder.. To simplify production, the purity of the geometry had to be changed: instead of the ever-changing curve of an ellipse, the shape of the cylinder was changed to have a curve based on multiple circular radii. The rigid helical structure acts as a truss network that transfers loads between the trusses – the upper and lower linear steel elements of the bridge. Transverse strength is provided by the two edge beams and the bridge deck.
A very specific work, therefore, it has become a symbol of Calgary and Canada in just ten years.
A clear departure from Calatrava’s stylistic canons
The most famous infrastructures of the Spanish archistar are characterized by sinuous and asymmetrical shapes, often serving as supports for sky-high areas and lower levels. Thus, Bridge of Peace, in this sense, represents a significant departure from Calatrava’s previous projects.. Another distinctive element is color; As we have seen most of Calatrava’s drawings are white, the Peace Bridge provides the red and white colors used in both the flag of Canada and the flag of Calgary.
The bridge is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, breathtaking views of the Bow River and surrounding cityscapes. The work has also become a popular spot for photographing the surrounding areas of the city. Especially at sunset and at night, when it merges with the landscape of lights from nearby skyscrapers. As for the Peace Bridge, despite its good name, it’s not always been rosy. Despite its popularity, the bridge has been subject to some controversy.
Initially its construction It faced a lot of opposition from some residents, who criticized the cost of the bridge and its design. The final cost of the bridge was approximately $25 million, more than the initial estimate of $10 million. however, Many Calgarians hailed the bridge as a landmark and symbol of the unique character of the city. According to some estimates, the bridge carries 6000 people a day and was ranked among the top 10 architectural projects of 2012 and among the top 10 public spaces of 2012. Adultery!
Structural Civil Engineer, graduated in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Rome La Sapienza, professionally working as Bridges and Viaducts and Structural Designer. Very fond of the whole sphere of bridges and viaducts and the world of infrastructure engineering in general. A true “hunter” of works of art as well as an observer of infrastructure development in Italy and around the world. A staunch supporter of preservation and restoration of existing historical heritage, works of inestimable value and unique and unrepeatable works of art.