Abstract
Switzerland’s natural geography, with its myriad mountains, valleys, and rivers, is predestined for a rich history of bridge building, from the covered timber bridges to the daring stone arch bridges, to the elegant concrete structures. For the history of construction, bridge engineering is particularly intriguing, as the actual structural design can be read so clearly on no other object. Nevertheless, particularly iron bridges, which were amongst the most prestigious engineering challenges in the second half of the 19th century, are hardly researched in Switzerland.
With the exception of a few suspension bridges built by prominent engineers in the first half of the 19th century [1], the heyday of iron bridges in Switzerland began shortly after the middle of the 19th century. The primary motor for the rapid emergence of iron as a new material in bridge construction was, of course, the railway, whose development was closely linked to the further development of iron bridges. At that time, however, there were only nine blast furnaces in Switzerland, which in 1854 were able to produce just over 12,000 tonnes of pig iron, covering only 42% of the actual demand [2]; the remaining material had to be imported from Germany, France, and England. This involved not only importing iron, but also attracting experienced engineers and companies who planned and built the earliest iron bridges. Thus, it is not feasible to speak of a domestic iron construction tradition shortly after the middle of the 19th century, but this was to change within the following years.
The present paper examines the early iron bridges in Switzerland and sheds light on their construction as well as the main protagonists involved. The study thus focusses on the genesis of a domestic iron construction industry whose development is based on a turbulent evolution of theory, curriculum, and practice. The relationship among these disciplines is not finally clarified, but it is the basis of an ongoing research project. Consequently, this paper serves as a basic introduction and a first chapter of the project; it is thus a primer. Show more
Publication status
publishedEditor
Book title
Timber and Construction. Proceedings of the Ninth Conference of the Construction HistoryPages / Article No.
Publisher
Construction History SocietyEvent
Subject
Construction History; Building Archaeology; Iron; Railway; Switzerland; Iron BridgesOrganisational unit
09581 - Holzer, Stefan M. / Holzer, Stefan M.
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