“A path is a prior interpretation of the best way to traverse a landscape,” writes Rebecca Solnit in her Wanderlust: A History of Walking. It is an intriguing thought, for while we may pause to consider new roads ahead, rarely do we deliberate on the paths we frequent. Treading a familiar journey, how often do we acknowledge the varying landscapes we navigate?
Whether on our everyday trek to get on with work or while wandering about neighbourhoods on weekends, we negotiate a remarkable range of natural and man made forms. Living in Strasbourg, I crossed the winding river Ill twice on my way to work; now living in Chicago, I ride along the massive Lake Michigan. As I come to frequent these paths, I take for granted the enablers of these journeys – infrastructures, engineering successes and striking designs – that help us cover ground, span rivers, ride underwater, scale hills and so on.
Taking a closer look at these systems, I notice differences in fundamental design intent – from leveraging existing landscape forces, applying technology to overcome landscapes and crafting delightful experiences – different systems express varying models of thought. How would we qualify these: could we say some are better than others? What should be the guiding principles for tomorrow’s designs?
Take for example the powerless cable ferry in Basel, Switzerland: cutting across the mighty Rhine without any external energy, these ‘reaction’ ferries use the force of the river to slide the boat along a fixed cable perpendicular to the river. Popular among residents as well as tourists, these ferries are used regularly on work commutes. Such simple yet thought-provoking interventions inspire smart design over ‘big’ design.
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REACTION FERRIES>Basel, Switzerland
Named ‘reaction ferries’ as they use the reaction of the river current against a fixed cord, these cable ferries thrust the boat across the river Rhine in Basel. Attached by a steel cable to a block that slides along another cable cutting across the river 20 – 30m above the water, these ferries are oriented at 45° to the direction of river flow for the most effective motion.
Located roughly midway between the five bridges across the river, the four ferries are called “Wilde Maa”, “Leu”, “Vogel Gryff” und “Ueli”. Serving around 195,000 inhabitants, these ferries are used as a regular means of public transport in the third most populous city in Switzerland.
Additional info: www.basel.com/en/activities_excursions/ferries
I take for granted the enablers of these journeys – infrastructures, engineering successes and striking designs – that help us cover ground, span rivers, ride underwater and scale hills
In landscapes as severe as San Francisco, United States – with its steep hills and winding roads – leveraging the power of what exists requires a much higher application of technology. Currently operating three lines from the late 1800s, the world’s last manually operated cable car system helps passengers scale a continuous sequence of crests and troughs. This seemingly slow-moving car network is invaluable for residents and tourists alike – following the silhouette of hills on foot is certainly beyond an average person’s stamina!
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SAN FRANCISCO CABLE CAR SYSTEM>
San Francisco, United States>1890-present
Operated by the San Francisco Municipal Railway, these cable cars navigate three routes: two from downtown to Fisherman’s Wharf and one along California Street. Used by seven million passengers annually, this icon of San Francisco has been attracting commuters from 1890.
Cables running below the street level pull these cable cars, attached to a grip that protrudes from the base of the car. Cruising at a steady speed of 15 kmph, these cable cars run a maximum length of 3.3km. A Gripman – driver of the cable car – is in charge of operating the grip cable, releasing it over intersections and gripping it back into normal state.
Additional info: www.sfcablecar.com
In crafting delightful experiences for urban residents, the name of Thomas Heatherwick stands out – his rolling bridge in London offers a moment of joy for those crossing the Paddington canal basin. Resembling a conventional steel and timber footbridge when extended, it curls itself into a circular form, allowing the passage of boats in the freed canal. Such urban delights not only encourage tourism but also inspire more experience-led design.
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ROLLING BRIDGE>London, England>2004-present
Thomas Heatherwick
Designed by the Heatherwick Studio to span an inlet of the Grand Union Canal in London, this pedestrian bridge allows neighbouring residents and workers to easily cut across the water body. For those who have seen the bridge animate, it is no less than a spectacle: a normal-looking bridge transforms into a sculpture on the bank of the canal!
Hydraulic pistons designed into the balustrade are activated simultaneously to open the bridge, poetically making its two ends meet, forming a circular shape. Spanning 12m when extended, this curling bridge is the only one of its kind in existence today.
Additional info: www.heatherwick.com/rolling-bridge
Growing urbanism along with increased spending on infrastructure raises an important question: what are the future characteristics of such means across the city landscape? From ancient Aurangabad’s Panchakki to Hitachi’s looping lift system, we have come a long way from leveraging natural landscapes for water transport to efficiently navigating man-made sprawls. Reflecting on the universality of Google Maps and Uber, one can argue that we’re creating an increasingly flat world that is easy to traverse – should we continue down that path? In our sustainable models of tomorrow, what should be the vehicles for scaling the city?
Images attributed under Creative Commons License, all in original form. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses)
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