Robert Maillart

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Robert Maillart Santiago Calatrava
Tavanasa Bridge
Volantin Footbridge Rhine River, Switzerland
Bilbaos Nervion River, Spain

• By Annetta McGuckin Christine Kim

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Thesis Statement

• Though Calatrava and Maillart differ in many ways
  they share a similar visual aesthetic that has
  placed them among the most innovative of bridge
  builders.

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Robert Maillart

• Scientific/efficiency
• Realized that he could correct the problem of
  cracking in the reinforced concrete by
  subtracting an area in the spandrel walls nearest
  to the abutments
• Social/economic
• The bridge was a success economically because it
  omitted the masonry facing, and used less
  material and construction costs were less overall
• Symbolic/Elegance
• Though the bridge faced widespread criticism at
  the time, it was an innovative form and is
  considered a piece of structural art
• It was symbolic of changes in structural
  engineering and reinforced concrete and showed
  that technology was moving forward

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Santiago Calatrava

• Scientific/efficiency
• A parabolic tied arch consisting of a steel grid,
  composed of forty-one I-shaped ribs with glass
  flooring that supports the steel profiles.
• Social/economic
• The Volantin Footbridge was built for a vast
  campaign of urban renewal.
• Symbolic/elegance
• The fixed lights on the bridge makes it look like
  a sculpture that brings the community together
  and a pedestrian meeting place.
• He derived his design from a harp in which the
  suspension cables on the bridge represent the
  strings and the cut outs make it seem light and
  elegant.

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Compare/Contrast
Robert Maillart Santiago Calatrava
Visual Aesthetics Non-decorative, simple forms and cut-outs Simple forms that capture the concept of movement
Environment Rural town Urban city
Cost efficiency Very cost efficient Expensive
Materials Reinforced concrete Steel frame glass deck
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Conclusion

• At first glance one would think that Calatravas
  structure, the Volantin Footbridge, is based on
  Maillarts bridges.
• The visual aesthetics of Maillarts and
  Calatravas structures are similar, but the
  differences in the environment, cost, and
  materials are what sets these structural
  engineers apart.
• Although they were structural engineers at
  different periods in time they were both
  innovative pioneers in their field.