MJW
Architecture

Basswood Bridges

Studies in lamination, curvature, and structural rhythm

Bridge models explore expressive form and structural efficiency through a restricted material palette. Laminated and bent basswood extend the possibilities of individual sticks.

Course
Illinois Institute of Technology Bridge Building Competition
Year
2022–2023
Team
Maxwell J. Wiesenfeld
Basswood bridge model with a broad curved arch and a thin central deck cut into linked oval shapes.
Aesthetic Basswood Bridge 2 · 2023
Basswood bridge model with two sculptural supports and a lattice of slender diagonal members casting shadows on a dark tabletop.
Aesthetic Basswood Bridge 1 · 2022
Lightweight basswood truss bridge with bent upper arches spanning between two concrete supports.
Strength Basswood Bridge · 2022

Working through the material

The 2023 bridge combines a bent laminated arch with a thin, laser-cut central sheet. The 2022 aesthetic bridge draws on the cable-stayed geometry of Santiago Calatrava’s Puente de la Mujer, using repeated diagonal members to create a changing lattice. A separate 2022 strength entry uses a lightweight truss with bent upper chords and earned first place.

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