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The Tower and the Bridge
The New Art of Structural Engineering
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David P. Billington
Language:
English
Published/Copyright:
1983
About this book
An essential exploration of the engineering aesthetics of celebrated structures from long-span bridges to high-rise buildings
What do structures such as the Eiffel Tower, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the concrete roofs of Pier Luigi Nervi have in common? According to The Tower and the Bridge, all are striking examples of structural art, an exciting area distinct from either architecture or machine design. Aided by stunning photographs, David Billington discusses the technical concerns and artistic principles underpinning the well-known projects of leading structural engineer-artists, including Othmar Ammann, Félix Candela, Gustave Eiffel, Fazlur Khan, Robert Maillart, John Roebling, and many others. A classic work, The Tower and the Bridge introduces readers to the fundamental aesthetics of engineering.
Author / Editor information
David P. Billington (1927–2018) was the Gordon Y. S. Wu Professor of Engineering Emeritus at Princeton University. His many books include Robert Maillart’s Bridges and Power, Speed, and Form (both Princeton).
Reviews
“Billington is clearly moved by great structures. . . . This is a book on structural engineering that sees its subject as part of the larger drama of history and culture, and for the breadth of this stance alone, it is impressive.”—Paul Goldberger, New York Times Book Review
“Elegant modern structures are often described as beautiful, and Billington, with the love of an artist, the patience of a historian, and the knowledge of a first-rate structuralist, has presented the achievements of the new age in a language of such lucidity and accuracy as to make them understandable to the interested layman.”—Mario Salvadori, American Scientist
“Elegant modern structures are often described as beautiful, and Billington, with the love of an artist, the patience of a historian, and the knowledge of a first-rate structuralist, has presented the achievements of the new age in a language of such lucidity and accuracy as to make them understandable to the interested layman.”—Mario Salvadori, American Scientist
Topics
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Frontmatter
i -
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CONTENTS
v -
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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
ix -
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PREFACE
xiii -
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
xvii -
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CHAPTER 1. A NEW TRADITION: ART IN ENGINEERING
1 - PART I. The Age of Iron
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CHAPTER 2. THOMAS TELFORD AND THE NEW ART FORM
27 -
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CHAPTER 3. BRUNEL, STEPHENSON, AND RAILWAY FORMS
45 -
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CHAPTER 4. GUSTAVE EIFFEL AND THE CRESCENT BRIDGE
60 -
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CHAPTER 5. JOHN ROEBLING AND THE SUSPENSION BRIDGE
72 -
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CHAPTER 6. THE BRIDGE AND THE TOWER
84 - PART II. The New Age of Steel and Concrete
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CHAPTER 7. JENNEY, ROOT, AND THE FIRST CHICAGO SCHOOL
99 -
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CHAPTER 8. BIG STEEL BRIDGES FROM EADS TO AMMANN
112 -
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CHAPTER 9. ROBERT MAILLART AND NEW FORMS IN REINFORCED CONCRETE
147 -
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CHAPTER 10. ROOF VAULTS AND NATIONAL STYLES
171 -
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CHAPTER 11. THE DIRECTING IDEA OF EUGENE FREYSSINET
194 -
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CHAPTER 12. DISCIPLINE AND PLAY: NEW VAULTS IN CONCRETE
213 -
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CHAPTER 13. NEW TOWERS, NEW BRIDGES
233 -
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EPILOGUE: THE IDEA OF STRUCTURE AS ART
266 -
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NOTES
277 -
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INDEX
295
Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
May 17, 2022
eBook ISBN:
9780691236933
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
Main content:
328
Other:
57 b/w illus.
eBook ISBN:
9780691236933
Keywords for this book
Structural art; Designer; Engineering; Technology; Arch bridge; Suspension bridge; Structural engineer; Parapet; Structural engineering; Ganter Bridge; Willis Tower; Cantilever; Theory of Forms; Verrazano–Narrows Bridge; Natural resource; Britannia Bridge; Scaffolding; Art; Verrazano Bridge (Maryland); Robert Maillart; Pier; Concrete shell; Masonry; John Hancock Tower; Urbanization; Transmission tower; Construction; Forth Bridge; Vannevar Bush; Work of art; Obstacle; Water treatment; Diagram; Natural environment; Le Corbusier; Calculation; Analysis; Phenomenon; Person A; Engineering analysis; Architecture; Industrial Revolution; Engineering design process; Jacques Ellul; Weathering; Reputation; Competition; Technological change; Uniqueness; Institution; Othmar Ammann; Career; Central Elevated Walkway; Curriculum; Fiberboard; Greenhouse gas; Proportion (architecture); International Style (architecture); Weapon system; Profession; Work function; Vocabulary; Chief technician; Complex analysis; Internal combustion engine; Architectural designer; Turbine; Industrial Building (Detroit); Machine; Writing
Audience(s) for this book
College/higher education;Professional and scholarly;General/trade;
