Over to youse.

We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it…

Skunkworks said:

Over to youse.

It can be ugly, meh, or a thing of beauty, depending on individual circumstances.

party_pants said:

Skunkworks said:

Over to youse.

It can be ugly, meh, or a thing of beauty, depending on individual circumstances.

They are pretty universal in looks, civil engineering to deliver a resource. They look beautiful now, but back in the day…

I like graceful arches, and complicated cable-stayed bridges.

> Is a viaduct ugly?

Badly designed is ugly. Well designed is beautiful. Always.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/4493024/the_cocoanuts_why_a_duck/

Hammer: (pause) …You’re a peach, boy. Now, here is a little peninsula, and, eh, here is a viaduct leading over to the mainland.

Chico: Why a duck?

Hammer: I’m alright, how are you? I say, here is a little peninsula, and here is a viaduct leading over to the mainland.

Chico: Alright, why a duck?

Hammer: (pause) I’m not playing “Ask Me Another,” I say that’s a viaduct.

Chico: Alright! Why a duck? Why that…why a duck? Why a no chicken?

Hammer: Well, I don’t know why a no chicken; I’m a stranger here myself. All I know is that it’s a viaduct. You try to cross over there a chicken and you’ll find out why a duck.

Skunkworks said:

party_pants said:

Skunkworks said:

Over to youse.

It can be ugly, meh, or a thing of beauty, depending on individual circumstances.

They are pretty universal in looks, civil engineering to deliver a resource. They look beautiful now, but back in the day…

Pretty universal?

mollwollfumble said:

> Is a viaduct ugly?

Badly designed is ugly. Well designed is beautiful. Always.

I don’t think so.

A viaduct designed to carry the required loads for the required period at minimum cost could be considered “well designed” and could also be ugly.

I’d like to see that one day, a thing of beauty and wonderment even today.
But we’ve come a long way since then, just have a look at Melbourne’s Federation Square to see how far we’ve come.

Peak Warming Man said:

I’d like to see that one day, a thing of beauty and wonderment even today.
But we’ve come a long way since then, just have a look at Melbourne’s Federation Square to see how far we’ve come.

Have a look at the Millau Viaduct while you’re there. They are only 200 km apart (2 hours 2 min, in current traffic).

The Rev Dodgson said:

Skunkworks said:

party_pants said:

It can be ugly, meh, or a thing of beauty, depending on individual circumstances.

They are pretty universal in looks, civil engineering to deliver a resource. They look beautiful now, but back in the day…

Pretty universal?

Great photos

Ugly viaducts are ugly, pretty viaducts are pretty.

Bubblecar has summed up the situation competently, but in all honesty I think the great bulk of viaducts are not ugly.

Bubblecar said:

Ugly viaducts are ugly, pretty viaducts are pretty.

And engineers made them both.

PermeateFree said:

Bubblecar said:

Ugly viaducts are ugly, pretty viaducts are pretty.

And engineers made them both.

So all viaducts are designed ugly then, but pretty is within an OoM of ugly. So pretty viaducts are just an engineers standard mistake.