Bridge builders - Pontifices Maximi

Architectural Review, The, Dec, 2002 by Tony Hunt

By Martin Pearce and Richard Jobson. Chichester: John Wiley. 2002. [pounds sterling]50

Another bridge book, published around the same time as 30 Bridges by the engineer Matthew Wells (AR August, p96).

Bridges hold a fascination for engineers, architects and others and, although there is some overlap between this book and one by Wells which I reviewed recently, one wants them both. The title of this book is slightly misleading as the bridges illustrated are exclusively pedestrian.

The introduction by Martin Pearce talks about the philosophy of the bridge linking riverbanks and creating routes and goes on to discuss the bridge in early history, through the Romans who were the first great bridge builders creating their communication routes throughout their empire. Medieval bridges are discussed and then comes a section on the bridges of the Industrial Revolution with the use of cast and wrought iron as opposed to stone or timber. Bridges in the United States are discussed, including the covered timber bridges and then the range of astounding steel cable suspension bridges. The introduction concludes with some brief notes on concrete bridges and then reverts to steel for San Francisco Golden Gate and Sydney Harbour. There are a number of bridges which I have never seen illustrated elsewhere, some of them plain, some articulated and one or two completely 'wild'.

Altogether another worthwhile addition to the library of bridge history.