Form & Function

The relationship of form and function is a major theme in architecture. The main focus is whether a building's form should express its function or should it be independent from its function. This project will analyze the relationship between form and function through design. My goal was to achieve a workable function that also fits in the desired bridge

Conceptual Bridge Spans

The following are my chosen conceptual spans that I picked for portraying form and function. The First is an Arch bridge, which relies on a semi-circle curve for support, making them a great attraction because they can span large distances without posts. The middle is a truss bridge. It is a load-bearing superstructure composed of a truss, usually forming triangular units. The last is a Cantilever bridge, which is built out sideways from piers.

Movement Analogy Inspirations

For this project I needed to incorporate a household item with a complex movement. I chose an umbrella, Vice-grips pliers, and a step stool for my movement analogies. These everyday items were my inspirations to draw movement mechanisms within my conceptual span designs. My final chosen component was the umbrella.

Conceptual Combination Table

The following drawing is my 3x3 table, which joined my conceptual bridge span and household item inspirations into one. For each prototype I designed a moveable mechanism using the household items, which helped me generate my ideas into a realistic design that was both functional and unique.