Form & Function

Objective: This project examines the relationship of form and function in architectural design. It encourages the awareness of truth, whatever position the designer takes, and promotes the arbitrary aesthetic of functional beauty.

Assignment: All buildings must, in some way, resist the forces of gravity to create a space in which its function is allowed to take place. This project will use a structural sliver of a span called a bridge as a platform to attach a function. The structural bridge will support a pedestrian walkway. The function in this case is the ability of the walkway on the bridge to open, allowing a 30 ft. wide x 40 ft. object to pass through.

The project will be assessed on structural clarity, functional expression and the creative transformation that takes place.

Inspiration:

Movement: Scissor, Crank, Hinge, Pulley

Structure: Arch, Cable Stay, Cantilever

Form & Function
	Can be added anywhere on the bridge. Will have to cut the supporting truss somewhere and add extra support. BEST	Can be added anywhere on the bridge. Will have to find a way to support the part of the bridge that is being removed. WORST	Once mechanics are added there is no support for the right side of the bridge. Can only be added to the right side of the bridge. And will have to find a way to support the rest of the bridge.
	Can easily be added to the middle of the bridge without affecting other cables and can hold mechanics easily in the trusses.	Can actuall have the truss elevate with the roadbed like an actual elevator.	Structure would have to be added to the top of the bridge to support the pulleys.
	Can be added to either side of the bridge. Will have to cut off one of the sides of the bridges and add structure to support it.	Will have to break through the trusses and and add more structure.	Can be added to side of the bridge Can only be added to the right side of the bridge. Will have to remove some of the cables and add structure to support whole left side of the bridge.

Preliminary Designs:

I chose not to take this design further because it was not my easiest solution and I would have needed to find a way to support the pulley’s and hide them at the same time.

I chose this design because it was easier to work with and I would be able to showcase my mechanisms more easily.

Final Design:

Transformation :: Animations :: Views

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