colincaprani.com

Comment from Joyce
Time: May 10, 2008, 11:25 pm

Your website is very nice

Comment from Miriam Schwab
Time: May 23, 2008, 9:34 am

Hi - I came across your site via your MultiFeedSnap plugin (which seems great, by the way), but I was interested to notice the topic of your blog, and particularly the picture of the suspended bridge in your header.

I am from Jerusalem, and the city is in the middle of erecting a suspended bridge at the entrance to the city, designed by architect Santiago Calatrava. I was wondering if you know about this bridge, and what you think about it. Apparently, suspended bridges cost 70% more than regular bridges, and I was wondering if there is any benefit to building a suspended bridge. Also, a few weeks ago a crack formed at the base, which they supposedly fixed but still is not a cause for comfort.

I was also wondering what you think about the bridge’s design. It’s supposed to resemble a lyre, but I have to admit that to me it seems to be more of an eyesore than anything else.

Thanks!

Miriam Schwab

Comment from Colin
Time: May 23, 2008, 4:53 pm

Miriam,
Firstly, thanks for your kind comment. Regarding the bridge though, as you might imagine it is difficult to overly criticize Calatrava because of the success he has had in bringing disparate parts of the design world together. His success comes from a unique blend of sculptor, architect (and most importantly!) structural engineer. Whilst his designs are sometimes impracticable and expensive, these are just relative concepts. A city does not employ Calatrava if it does not want a statement to be made about the place and its future. In doing so the costs of such pieces becomes much more than would have otherwise been. But I’m not sure this is a bad thing: if the world was full of solely economic designs our senses would feel the poverty of these constructions. And so, occasionally (and probably not often enough), we pay more for better.

Statements such as suspended bridges are 70% more expensive are invariably false. Since every site is different, it is often not possible to compare even bridges of the same length. But for a given site there are alternatives considered at initial design stage. Usually one or two of these is most economic and a design is then made based on other factors, such as aesthetics. But in the case of a Calatrava design, there is probably a cheaper alternative. But one which neglects the extra benefit to our senses. Perhaps in the case of the Chord Bridge the alternative was 70% less, and was not a suspended span, but this is not to say that all suspended spans are 70% more expensive than all other forms of bridge. Sometimes a suspended span is the only real solution - think of the Golden Gate bridge, for example.

On a technical point, the Chord bridge is a cable-stayed bridge since its cables originate from the pylon and do not connect to a catenery cable - a feature common to all suspension bridges. Also in any daring and new construction that pushes boundaries there are bound to be some problems. Cracks are a regular feature of any concrete construction, we just usually keep them small enough so the public doesn’t notice! I have no doubt that the Chord bridge has a team of excellent structural engineers working on it, and any problems during construction would be quickly remedied and further studied to ascertain their effect on the final construction.

Lastly, on the subject of eyesores - we’d do well to remember that the Eiffel Tower was hated by Parisians when it was first built. Now it is seen as the national symbol of France. Give the Chord bridge time and it will find its place in Jerusalem and its people

Comment from iain
Time: June 5, 2008, 10:52 am

Hi Colin,

I am looking at your multifeedsnap plugin and will give it a go.

I like your site design and particularly the menu system. I have been playing with a multi level css menu plug in for WP and wondered if you used something similar, or is yours hard coded…??

thanks, and keep up the good work..

Iain

Comment from Colin
Time: June 16, 2008, 6:47 pm

Hi Iain,
Yes it is all hard-coded with a good bit of experimentation. You can look at the css file to see how it’s done, but it’s probably not very clear!

Comment from Thabet Abu Shah
Time: November 12, 2008, 2:16 pm

Colin,

Your web site is very fascinating especially the study materials. Very simple and easy to read.
I wonder if you can help with my query below?

I am currently preparing for IstructE exams in 2009 and I am collecting information, shortcut analyses and tables for building structures steel and concrete.

I have managed to collect a lot off materials for the analysis and design. I couldn’t find guides for the preliminary analysis and design /short cuts for portal frame buildings with cranes as well as highbay frame buildings such as aircrafts hangers. Please advise!

Your Help is appreciated

Many Thanks

Thab