Form and Funtion:

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One of the fundamental elements in architectural design is form. Form is the physically expression of the building in its environment, and form can be expressed in any shape or style. However, in most cases there are factors such as, environment, function, and design criteria that will be the dominating factor in the way form takes shape.

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The first project of our Design II course challenges us to modify an existing fixed bridge design. Our task is to incorporate a moving deck into an existing bridge and modify the design to meet given criteria. The purpose of the redesign is to reinforce the proven practice of "form following function". We explored a number of possible movement analogies and compared existing bridges to the basic mechanisms of these movements, to determine the best design solution. 

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Ultimately, I decided to modify an arc bridge and use a series rack and pinion assembly to lift a draw bridge, accommodating the ship to pass.