Maybe you don’t think a post on bridges sounds very interesting.  How about a bridge that folds into a circle to let boats by?  Or one that has a meditation center and museum on it?  Or a coffee shop?  I hope some of the amazing designs, cool lighting or perfect locales on this page change your mind.

rollingbridge, Built to let canal boats pass, The rolling bridge unfurls every day at noon, London, England

Built to let canal boats pass, the rolling bridge unfurls every day at noon, London, England

 

A new kind of draw bridge:  Friedrich Bayer Bridge

A new kind of draw bridge: Friedrich Bayer Bridge, Brazil

bridge, not quite a draw bridge, Friedrich Bayer Bridge

Bridge on lake in Tatton's Japanese garden in the UK

Helium balloon suspended bridge by Olivier Grossetête in Tatton’s Japanese garden in the UK.

bridge and crazy

ljusarkitektur-solvesborg-bridge, Sweden

ljusarkitektur-solvesborg-bridge, Sweden

Sölvesborgsbron 7Sölvesborgsbron 10 Sölvesborgsbron 5

Ancient Bridge, Kromlau, Germany

Ancient Bridge, Kromlau, Germany

 

The ‘gold line bridge’ is the first mass transit crossing in California to be designed by an artist (assuming none of the architects of the other bridges count as artists.)

The ‘gold line bridge’ in Arcadia, California.  Andrew Leicester was commissioned to capture the character of the local culture and history in his design.

Image by PacoAlcantara.

Image by PacoAlcantara.

The world's largest dragon-shaped bridge over the Han River, Vietnam, covered in over 2,500 LED lights - and it breathes fire.

The world’s largest dragon-shaped bridge over the Han River, Vietnam, covered in over 2,500 LED lights – and it breathes fire.

Vietnams-Fire-Breathing-Dragon-Bridge

bridge, 3

by Ian@NZ on flickr

by Ian@NZ on flickr

Millenium bridge’ of bamboo, Bali, Indonesia.

Millenium bridge’ of bamboo, Bali, Indonesia.

Aiola Island Bridge - Mur River in Graz, Austria - It has a sunbathing area, a trendy bar and a coffee house, plus it allows you to cross the Mur River

Aiola Island Bridge – Mur River in Graz, Austria – It has a sunbathing area, a trendy bar and a coffee house, plus it allows you to cross the Mur River

Moonlight in Multnomah Falls, Oregon  by bobshots on flickr

Moonlight in Multnomah Falls, Oregon by bobshots on flickr

Umeda Sky Building in Osaka City, Japan - world's highest escalator.

Umeda Sky Building in Osaka City, Japan – world’s highest escalator.

Under The Bridge by Mazen Abdulmalek

Under The Bridge by Mazen Abdulmalek

bridge,

Bamboo bridge

bridges, 2

Image by junkie-house

Image by junkie-house

China

China

Garden of 10,000 bridges by "west 8" in Xi’an, China

Garden of 10,000 bridges by “west 8” in Xi’an, China

Garden level

Garden level

The 'peace bridge' by Valencian architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava, spanning the bow river in Calgary, Canada.

The ‘peace bridge’ by Valencian architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava, spanning the bow river in Calgary, Canada.

 Zhivopisny Bridge, Moscow, Russia

Zhivopisny Bridge, Moscow, Russia

cal, bridge

High Bridge Trail State Park, Virginia

High Bridge Trail State Park, Virginia

 

Rainforest Canopy Walkway by Travelust 88

Rainforest Canopy Walkway by Travelust 88

Royal Gorge Bridge, Colorado.  The world's highest suspension bridge which spans the Arkansas River at a height of 1053 feet.

Royal Gorge Bridge, Colorado. The world’s highest suspension bridge which spans the Arkansas River at a height of 1053 feet.

The Khaju Bridge, Pol-e-Khajoo, in Isfahan, Iran, was built in the 17th century by Shah Abbas II.  The bridge is also a dam, with sluice gates under the archways.

The Khaju Bridge, Pol-e-Khajoo, in Isfahan, Iran, was built in the 17th century by Shah Abbas II. The bridge is also a dam, with sluice gates under the archways.

The Palladian Bridge, Bath, England

The Palladian Bridge, Bath, England

Bridge leading to the Giant Buddha, China

Bridge leading to the Giant Buddha, China

Millau Bridge, France - the tallest bridge in the world.

Millau Bridge, France – the tallest bridge in the world.

 

Spider bridge by henrye,  Sun City, North-West of South Africa

Spider bridge by henrye, Sun City, North-West of South Africa

The whole bridge is suspended with boats holding planks together, China

The whole bridge is suspended with boats holding planks together, China

Giethoorn, Netherlands (the town with no roads) - The Venice of Netherland

Giethoorn, Netherlands (the town with no roads) – The Venice of Netherland

The Arganzuela footbridge is over 250 meters long, subtly expanding in its diameter.

The Arganquela footbridge is over 250 meters long, subtly expanding in its diameter.

 

perrault04,  the design is over 250 meters long, subtly expanding in its diameterperrault05

In Madrid, Spain

In Madrid, Spain

Skybridge, built on the island of Pulau in the Langkawi Archipelago , this cross between a bridge and an observation deck affords fantastic views of the Andaman Sea.  It stands 700 metres.

Skybridge, built on the island of Pulau in the Langkawi Archipelago , Malaysia.  This cross between a bridge and an observation deck affords fantastic views of the Andaman Sea. It stands 700 metres.

Spanning the trinity river and Dallas floodway in Dallas, Texas, the ‘Margaret Hunt hill bridge’

Spanning the trinity river and Dallas floodway in Dallas, Texas, the ‘Margaret Hunt hill bridge’

A closed railroad bridge built in 1939 dong-gu, daegu, south korea was redesigned  to include cultural service facilities, such as a meditation institute, observatory space,

A closed railroad bridge built in 1939 dong-gu, daegu, South Korea was redesigned to include cultural service facilities, such as a meditation institute, observatory space, rest area and a museum.

Details of the old railroad tie and rail show through.

Details of the old railroad tie and rail show through.

Meditation center on the bridge.

Meditation center on the bridge.

The kiosks serve as a digital museum of the bridge.

The kiosks serve as a digital museum of the bridge.

The bridge at night.

The bridge at night.

Dallas, Texas.  Image © gus rios

Dallas, Texas. Image © gus rios

By gus Rios

By gus Rios

Architects from NEXT were chosen to design a new bridge over a canal in Purmurend, The Netherlands to accommodate bikes, pedestrians and wheelchairs. However, wheelchairs need very shallow ramps for access, which made the bridge a really long Z shape, almost 330 feet long.

Architects from NEXT were chosen to design a new bridge over a canal in Purmurend, The Netherlands to accommodate bikes, pedestrians and wheelchairs. However, wheelchairs need very shallow ramps for access, which made the bridge a really long Z shape, almost 330 feet long.

The solution was to add another short but steep bridge for pedestrians who could climb up the arch, 40 feet high, and get a great view too.

The solution was to add another short but steep bridge for pedestrians who could climb up the arch, 40 feet high, and get a great view too.

Ölhafen Bridge

The new white Ölhafen Bridge is an elegant, curved structure. It spans the 70 m wide entrance to the oil terminal harbour in Raunheim, Germany with a spiralling access ramp.

The new white Ölhafen Bridge is an elegant, curved structure. It spans the 70 m wide entrance to the oil terminal harbour in Raunheim, Germany with a spiralling access ramp.

Ölhafen Bridge by schneider+schumacherolhafen bridge

Boldogkovaralja, Hungary

Boldogkovaralja, Hungary

Cane bridge and woman carrying cane logs - Kabua village, Republic Of The Congo.

Cane bridge and woman carrying cane logs – Kabua village, Republic Of The Congo.

Henderson Waves At a height of 36 metres or 12 storeys pedestrian bridge, Singapore.

Henderson Waves At a height of 36 metres or 12 storeys pedestrian bridge, Singapore.

Light Rail Train Bridge; Jerusalem, Israel; designed by Santiago Calatrava.

Light Rail Train Bridge; Jerusalem, Israel; designed by Santiago Calatrava.

 

Peace footbridge over river in Lyon, France

Peace footbridge over river in Lyon, France

PUBLIC SPACE in the middle of Lyon bridge.

PUBLIC SPACE in the middle of Lyon bridge.)

Bleichwiesensteg Backnangbridges,bridges, via sambridge

Bruges, Belgium

Bruges, Belgium

For more bridges, go here.

Thanks to:  DesignBoom, and Sam Pryor on Pinterest

 

18 thoughts on “Bridges

  1. WOW!!! This three letter word cannot begin to describe the awesome gobsmackedness of these magnificent structures. Did humans actually design and build such wondrous structures?

  2. WOW!! what amazing constructions – the skill of architects and/or local people is great 🙂

  3. What a GRAND show-Some beautiful bridges-Some unusual bridges-Some just WAY out bridges. Excellent pictorial.

  4. Quite the contrary these amazing bridges remind me that we all need to bridge the gap between all countries every day I pray that the future generations will be ones to creat & witness major change in attitudes of government & peoples thank you for sending these awesome pictures to the many people & myself who enjoy your hard work thank you Duskys Wonders.

  5. First thought was “Thinking outside the Box” Some amazing designs,I find it interesting having been in some of the countries listed how the design did not surprise me based on the culture of the area. Very impressive.

  6. Many thanks and appreciation for the wounderfull wonders I resive form you ,,,
    Wish you all the best , ali

  7. Totally amazing. Bridges was great! Never would have thought they could be so beautiful. Keep up the great job.

  8. So many things engineered today only consider function. It is wondrous to see form and function partnered together to give functionally in spiritual beauty.

  9. I wish I had designed any one of them, they make my spirit soar and they humble me at the same time. Thank you or sharing.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *