Why Aren’t Modernist Bridges Awful?

People often hold negative views of modern architecture, but modern bridges generally escape such criticism. Lists showcasing the world's most impressive, remarkable, or beautiful bridges typically feature renowned structures like London’s Tower Bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge, or the Rakotzbrücke in Germany. However, alongside these iconic designs, articles also showcase examples such as the Kubitschek Bridge in Brazil, the Rio-Antirrio Bridge in Greece, and the Moses Bridge in the Netherlands.

Regardless of one’s personal preference, it is evident from the literature that there is no prevalent notion that modern bridges are universally unappealing or that modern bridge construction has fallen short compared to the great bridges of the past, just as modern architecture is often derided.

My hypothesis is that bridge designers typically hail from engineering programs rather than architecture schools. It is plausible, albeit not definitive, that the unique characteristics of bridges—such as catenaries, arches, and cables under tension—constrain the design possibilities, inadvertently leading to aesthetically pleasing results.

While it is true that engineers can and do create unsightly bridges, this does not necessarily imply that engineering constraints are the sole factor at play. Furthermore, a minor but noteworthy observation is that out of the bridges listed by Wallpaper magazine, an architecture-focused publication, a significant number are deemed unattractive.

Here are a few examples for your consideration, none of which feature in my initial category of "popular" and "beautiful" bridges.