IN-PERSON: Livable Cities – New York

Abstract

Infrastructure is an essential part of our society. It has both integrated and segregated communities across cities, at the same time as it has neglected connection to nature. Although bridges and roads are an invaluable resource to urban settings, the demise of green space and natural landscapes has been systematically repeated. Trees and fields were paved over; marshes and wetlands were erased – all for the sake of human progress and interconnection. Efficient paths and low budgets took over the landscape. Today, a heightened awareness and need to be surrounded by nature has awakened the desire to improve urban infrastructure. More and more parks are popping up and buildings are beginning to be covered in greenery, but what of the actual infrastructure, especially bridges? Bridges offer the unique opportunity to blend both natural and man-made elements in a purposeful and beautiful duet, they have the ability to dedicate new green space in urban contexts and allow communities to return to the natural environment without hindering growth or innovation. Their elevated nature along with their vertical and horizontal planes acts as a perfect framework for implementing greenery within its structure. This allows bridges to provide and integrate biophilic design to help communities and cities thrive for the next generations. This paper will look at existing case studies as a guide to developing a future “how-to” for modular solutions in urban contexts. It will become a resource for engineers, architects, and community leaders to use on a wide scale of urban infrastructure projects. References: Beatley, Timothy. Biophilic Cities: Integrating Nature into Urban Design and Planning. Island Press, 2011. Leonhardt, Fritz. Bridges: Aesthetics and Design. The MIT Press, 1984.