Aesthetics aspects of Japanese Bridges

Science and technology, which for ages, were symbols of human greatness and were thought to lead mankind to welfare and happiness, has come to invoke anxiety and fear. The human race is losing belief in technological civilization and no longer approves the forces that created it. Increasingly, science and technology are seen as useful only when they operate within appropriate social limits. This particularly concerns the architectural aspects and civil engineering, which is almost the oldest profession in the world and which is always a showcase of technology. A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacle such as a body of water, city, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle. This paper presents the first part of Japanese bridges by investigating architectural aspects of its design. An important aspect of bridge construction will lead into a critical study of bridge aesthetics and structural design. According to the configuration of frameworks, bridges may be described as arched, girder, cable-stayed or suspension. Referring to Japanese bridges, those that most frequently provide cable-stayed frameworks in the construction work of bridges are an important factor in architecture and aesthetic of bridges. Key words: Bridge architecture, Japan, cable stayed, aesthetic, grid box, arched.