Bridge Aesthetics – Functional and Structural Needs versus Architectural Imagination

Relations between structural form as well as service function of bridges and their aesthetics are analysed. Irrespective of their scale bridges always affect their surroundings or landscape. Therefore, they not only have an engineering and economic meaning but also a social and a cultural one. In some cases, especially older bridges have an additional symbolic or a historic meaning. Contemporary trends concerning bridge aesthetics are discussed. Commonly modern bridge structures ideas are controversial – their forms often seem to be more important than their service function and classical aesthetic principles are rather rarely observed. Presented problems are exemplified by bridge structures in Poland and in other countries. Conclusions concerning the relations between the bridge aesthetics and bridge function are formulated. Some remarks on the future trends in the bridge engineering are also presented.