Synopses & Reviews
Christian Menn is one of the most renowned structural engineers in the world. He is known in particular for his remarkable bridges, such as the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge in Boston. This book is the first to document Mennandrsquo;s work in detail, alongside his vision, philosophy, and thinking about design and engineering. Presenting around thirty of his designsandmdash;both built and unbuiltandmdash;via full-color photographs, plans, and drawings, the book celebrates Mennandrsquo;s creative solutions to challenging engineering problems and his constant rethinking of the fundamentals of his profession. Mennandrsquo;s own writings on his work are accompanied by essays from fellow engineer David P. Billington, scholar Werner Oechslin, writer Iso Camartin, and others, all of whom offer different takes on Mennandrsquo;s achievement.
Providing rich insights into Mennandrsquo;s lifetime in architecture and engineering, Christian Mennandmdash;Bridges will impress and inspire in equal parts.
Synopsis
Christian Menn ranks among the most renowned structural engineers worldwide. Continuing the tradition of Swiss excellency in engineering, and in the construction of bridges in particular, he succeeds men such as Robert Maillart and Othmar H. Ammann and at the same has taken his own position. Both as a designing engineer and as a teacher at ETH Zurich he has been a highly influential figure for decades. Many of his outstanding designs have become landmarks admired for their elegance and stringency.
This new monograph documents Mennand#8217;s work, vision, thinking and philosophy. Around thirty of his designs, built and unrealized, are featured in large full color photographs, many of the newly taken for this book, and with rich technical detail and plans. Mennand#8217;s own texts show his passion and as well as his immense experience in dealing with the particular circumstances and surrounding conditions of each project. Essays by fellow engineer David P. Billington, scholar Werner Oechslin, and writer and publicist Iso Camartin look at Mennand#8217;s oeuvre from different points of view.
The book offers a rich insight into Mennand#8217;s lifelong thorough examination of the fundamentals of his profession, and it is also a comprehensive reflection on the art of structural engineering.
About the Author
Christian Menn graduated from ETH Zurich and has been running his own engineering firm in Chur, Switzerland, since 1957.
Caspar Schandauml;rer is an architect and lives and works as an architectural publicist in Zurich.