Comments on: Should London's Tower Bridge be painted red?

By: Christine

Christine — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 02:38:53 +0000

So it seems this is the Bridge built (of bricks and mortar?) after St Olav(e) had torn down the previous one. See the map of London c1300.
[ http://a487.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/55/l_9eb2a9c7a6989f7c83690039488c414e.jpg ]

By: Christine

Christine — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 06:56:20 +0000

I have more faith in engineers than others when it comes to designing bridges because they tend towards ‘elegance’ in their solutions. This is why I list Eiffel, Kingdom-Brunnel and Peter Rice as some of my engineering heroes.
[ http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/11/12/top-5-most-innovative-green-bridges-on-the-planet/ ]

I wonder if the engineer collaborated, but had the greater say, re elegance whether I would be less cynical about others?

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 05:25:42 +0000

I agree with you and with Boris. They should rebuild an 'inhabited' bridge in London BUT with no thought of ever allowing motor-powered vehicles to use it (though the Galata Bridge in Istanbul works well enough with the vehicles on top and an inhabited section below). Professional bridge designers should be deconstructed to give them a similar role to structural consultants on a a building project; they should never be the lead consultants. Maybe we need Bridge Parents, as well as City Parents.

By: Christine

Christine — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 02:44:04 +0000

It seems Boris is taking the subsequent verses of the nursery rythme seriously and plans to build London Bridge ‘up again’ in a) wood and clay b) bricks and mortar c) iron and steel or d) silver and gold.
[ http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/may/05/shortcuts-architecture-boris-johnson-bridges ]

Not sure why the tobacco companies haven’t exploited this one in their advertising!
[ http://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=801&c=116 ]

Whoops! I knew this…London Bridge and Tower Bridge are different.
[ http://raininstavanger.blogspot.com/2010/08/london-bridge-is-broken-down-by-vikings.html ]

It is quite possible that Olav gained gold and glory as the Norwegian version says. [ http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/0-9/1000ad/1000j.html ]

Back to the present, I agree with Boris. Rebuilding London Bridge is a good project! London should hold a design competition.

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 12:19:38 +0000

Those proud pantiles were probably imported from the Low Countries. If you walk along the
Thames beach today you can find masses of broken terracotta, which may be the remains of those tiles. Sorry I do not know about Olav. We had a lot of trouble with Vikings and don’t get as much attention as they deserve in histories of England.

By: Christine

Christine — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 00:47:22 +0000

ps. Is this the London Bridge which was torn down by Olav?
[ http://www.viking.no/e/people/st.olav/e-london-bridge.htm ] Who is Olav? St Olav was the Norwegian King. [ http://www.katolsk.no/biografi/olav/english.htm ]

By: Christine

Christine — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 05:13:30 +0000

Maybe a touch of red would remind us all of Old London Bridge?
[ http://www.1st-art-gallery.com/thumbnail/187233/1/Old-London-Bridge,-Detail-From-Vischers-London,-17th-Century.jpg ]

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 12:47:40 +0000

I don't think they are enough, because most of the telephone boxes have gone and given the steep decline in physical mail the post boxes may be on the same path. Wiki says that red symboilizes courage, sacrifice, sin, guilt, pain, passion, blood, anger - and warning. So does London, not to mention it being the city of Karl Marx and William Morris. We should proclaim our heritage!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 11:10:55 +0000

Aren’t the pillar boxes and remaining telephone boxes enough red for London? A harmonious balance with the grey?

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 09:21:31 +0000

I guess both of these photographs would look exactly the same if the background structures were painted in pillar box red.