To put this in better perspective, the average driveway requires between six and seven meters of concrete, meaning there is well over twelve-thousand driveways' worth of concrete stretching out for two-and-a-half kilometers over the valley of the River Tarn, at times higher than the Eiffel Tower and most of the buildings in New York City (BridgePros 2010). All of this material went to good use, creating not only the tallest vehicle bridge in the world, but also one of the safest and most assuredly long-lasting (BridgePros 2010).
Yet despite the football-stadium's worth of concrete and steel somehow suspended in the skyline of southern France, there is a tremendous and awe-inspiring beauty to the Milau viaduct bridge that defies the massive scale of the project. From this plan's initial design phases, the bridge was meant to be an epic and lasting work of art, and it was incredibly successful in attaining this goal (Glancey 2004). The lightness and seeming (and literal, in fact) suspension of the bridge is breathtaking in aerial views and awe-inspiring in majesty from the ground (Foster + Partners 2010).
Aside from the sheer massiveness and height of the bridge, there are many other features of both its architectural and its technical design that make this bridge both scientifically and culturally noteworthy. Part of the bridge's grace and the strength and practicality of its design is derived from the fact that it does not simply jut straight across the River Tarn valley skyline in a horizontal slash, but actually forms a graceful and sloping curve from one side of the valley to another. The radius of the curve -- the distance from the hypothetical center of the circle of which the Milau Viaduct bridge comprises a section to the bridge itself -- is approximately twenty kilometers, making the curve very gently and hardly perceptible while actually traversing the roadway, but this curve actually help drivers have better visibility along the span of the bridge as they move along (StateMaster 2010). The subtle downward slope that occurs from north to south is a natural result of the different heights of the valley walls at the point decided optimum for the bridge, and adds to the aesthetic grace of the bridge as well by making it appear almost a part of the natural flow of the landscape.
Even the cement pillars that support the bridge have both functional and aesthetic value. The solid masts used to anchor the cables upon which the bridge is suspended split beneath the driving surface to provide more flexibility for natural...
Eiffel Tower Modern national monuments hold an important significance for the nations that erect them. However, there are a few monuments that seem to hold more sway over the collective imagination of the world. The Eiffel Tower is one of those monuments. General Description/Analysis The Eiffel Tower, begun in 1885 and finished in 1889. It is named for its creator, Gustave Eiffel, and consists of 7,742 tons of iron, over two and a
The results, published in the Statistical Journal of the United Nations, showed that of the 6,970 women interviewed, 11% had been the victim of at least one form of sexual abuse since childhood. The report also showed that some 50,000 rapes occurred in the year of the survey, 2000; one woman in ten suffers physical violence in her relationship; 37.5% of women between 20 and 24 years of age
How does the building address the issue of light? The building, despite its weight and size, is lacy and light. It is reduced to a minimum in order to achieve height, much like a giraffe has a thin but strong neck, or a butterfly has a delicate lacework structure to support its wings. Does color play a role in the building's design? The building is best seen at night in silhouette, so color
11. Existentialism Existentialism is a philosophical perspective that emphasizes the larger reality of the external world beyond the specific human needs or goals of the individual. Its two most influential contributors are Nietzsche and Kierkegaard. 12. Information on the origins of Jazz Generally, Jazz is believed to have originated in New Orleans, Louisiana after the Creoles who were originally from the West Indies and lived under Spanish and then French rule became American
The person-as-symbol element in fiction can be a very powerful one, and few uses of this device are more prominent or more powerful than Toni Morrison's in Beloved. This also comes with certain elements of fantasy -- misconceptions and/or misunderstandings based on a simplified view of the character Beloved. Sethe comes to treat Beloved as the sole purpose in her life, a being who deserves everything and is essentially above
The new woman is scary for many, especially for men. Not only because she personifies a radical change, but because they no longer have the power upon her. Being independent, wise and strong she becomes an adversary, an opponent and therefore a challenge. And it's not only the male pride at stake, but also the acknowledgement that society was really changing. A relevant example for our discussion is the literary character
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