Bridges in the context of human civilization; is not only a technology construction work that connects humans from one place to another. Bridges are understood as a human cultural creativity product that connect one era to the other; putting together one time dimension with the other.
During its time, bridges were understood as a structure of horizontal construction supported by strong pillars, made to go across gaps and obstacles, be it valleys, rivers, canal, and so on. As technology evolves, bridges those connect two lands were then known. With time, bridges also go across straits.
Bridges were built, at first, so that humans may overcome obstructions. Bridges were built to allow pedestrians, automobiles and trains to cross without any obstacles. Along with the development of modern human civilization, the dimension of bridges becomes wider. It changes and alters the function of various connecting facilities between the locations of human’s residence with the facilities those are more effective and efficient.
Boats and ferries those were at first the interisland human connecting facilities; are then replaced by bridges. At least, that is how we see it all over the world, be it in Europe, America, and even then in Asia. Indonesia alone that is an isles and maritime country, develops the tendency and passion to make bridges as the main facility for inter-island connector, in replacement of other facilities.
What we witness by the existence of Suramadu Bridge that connects Surabaya (Java Island) and Bangkalan (Madura Island) is a reality before our eyes. What is still within the planning imaginary description is the Sunda Straits Bridge that is perceived to be connecting Banten (Java Island) with Lampung (Sumatera). Soon, bridges will not only facilitate the dynamics of human mobility in conducting migration, but far beyond that, it may also allow the escalation of acculturation and human freedom of their geographical boundaries.
From the construct design dimension, bridges also went through progress. There are simple bridges those only rely on the power of “supporting” weight such as the Bailey Bridge; there are also bridges those are made taller than necessary in order to attain certain effect and reflection, namely the Moon Bridge. The last one includes specific bridges those are build to only serve the importance of palace emperors, such as the one in the Forbidden City of Puyi Dynasty, Beijing, China.
From the construction’s row material, bridges follow through technology progress as part of human cultural and civilization progress. In time when humans were still very much influenced by agriculture; relying on simplicity and the wisdom of customs, bridges were made of wood planks. This is the type we recognize as the Log Bridge. The type is quite simple, for it is made by knocking down timber, to then put it in horizontal position just like that.
When the element of metal started to be used as certain span material; we then started to get familiar with various types of bridges. Starting rom the suspended bridge that combines plates of iron with planks of wood, to the bailey bridge that combines the elements of iron, stones, sand, cement, limestone, and asphalt. As for the train track bridge, it combines the length of steel rail with wood cushions, supported by iron and cement.
Lately, as the thought of artistic and aesthetic harmony with the power of artificial engineering begins to evolve, we start to recognize various bridges emerging as installation works. Those are amongst what we see on the bridges of the Nil River, Sheine River, Reine River, Golden Bridge, and others. This includes the bridge’s architectural pattern that we find on the Bridges of Penang, Suramadu, and others. For however, bridges will eventually be the span of human culture and civilization.
During its time, bridges were understood as a structure of horizontal construction supported by strong pillars, made to go across gaps and obstacles, be it valleys, rivers, canal, and so on. As technology evolves, bridges those connect two lands were then known. With time, bridges also go across straits.
Bridges were built, at first, so that humans may overcome obstructions. Bridges were built to allow pedestrians, automobiles and trains to cross without any obstacles. Along with the development of modern human civilization, the dimension of bridges becomes wider. It changes and alters the function of various connecting facilities between the locations of human’s residence with the facilities those are more effective and efficient.
Boats and ferries those were at first the interisland human connecting facilities; are then replaced by bridges. At least, that is how we see it all over the world, be it in Europe, America, and even then in Asia. Indonesia alone that is an isles and maritime country, develops the tendency and passion to make bridges as the main facility for inter-island connector, in replacement of other facilities.
What we witness by the existence of Suramadu Bridge that connects Surabaya (Java Island) and Bangkalan (Madura Island) is a reality before our eyes. What is still within the planning imaginary description is the Sunda Straits Bridge that is perceived to be connecting Banten (Java Island) with Lampung (Sumatera). Soon, bridges will not only facilitate the dynamics of human mobility in conducting migration, but far beyond that, it may also allow the escalation of acculturation and human freedom of their geographical boundaries.
From the construct design dimension, bridges also went through progress. There are simple bridges those only rely on the power of “supporting” weight such as the Bailey Bridge; there are also bridges those are made taller than necessary in order to attain certain effect and reflection, namely the Moon Bridge. The last one includes specific bridges those are build to only serve the importance of palace emperors, such as the one in the Forbidden City of Puyi Dynasty, Beijing, China.
From the construction’s row material, bridges follow through technology progress as part of human cultural and civilization progress. In time when humans were still very much influenced by agriculture; relying on simplicity and the wisdom of customs, bridges were made of wood planks. This is the type we recognize as the Log Bridge. The type is quite simple, for it is made by knocking down timber, to then put it in horizontal position just like that.
When the element of metal started to be used as certain span material; we then started to get familiar with various types of bridges. Starting rom the suspended bridge that combines plates of iron with planks of wood, to the bailey bridge that combines the elements of iron, stones, sand, cement, limestone, and asphalt. As for the train track bridge, it combines the length of steel rail with wood cushions, supported by iron and cement.
Lately, as the thought of artistic and aesthetic harmony with the power of artificial engineering begins to evolve, we start to recognize various bridges emerging as installation works. Those are amongst what we see on the bridges of the Nil River, Sheine River, Reine River, Golden Bridge, and others. This includes the bridge’s architectural pattern that we find on the Bridges of Penang, Suramadu, and others. For however, bridges will eventually be the span of human culture and civilization.
