I love the design of the new overpasses and interchanges along 465. Rather than a plain concrete structures with basic steel guardrails, we get textured concrete, faux arches (a la 71st Street/I-465), and interesting guardrails like this one. I know you can see this in other cities and states more and more, but it's still nice to see this kind of thoughtfulness around Indy. It's been said by the urbanophile that what's important is how a city treats its ordinary spaces. What can be more ordinary than a beltway-highway overpass?
Let's not be using un-Hoosier words like beltway. The beltway is I-495 around Washington. I-465 is I-465. Geez next you'll be calling this a metroplex. Yuk. Nice bridge there too.
I hate those things. They're ridiculous. Next thing you know our bridges will be as retarded as Chicago's newer ones. That would be a disaster to me. I'd much rather come up with a basic design with repeating elements - yes, better than INDOT standards, but not with all these bad decoration pieces. Would you put that star and swooping curvy staps as a decoration in your house - no way, unless you collect Longaberger baskets. I'd much prefer some of the infrastructure designs coming out of Spain or Melbourne - which aren't that much more expensive.
josh, I discussed the matter in my detailed review of this bridge. I admire the effort to do something nice, but feel the decoration has nothing to do with the overall design concept, nor does it relate in any significant way to Indianapolis.
If you are referring to the red downtown bridge rails in Chicago, I don't think they are super-great myself. But, that star and wavy line design is the city flag of Chicago. They did something that at least relates to their city.
I certainly like this better than the nuclear blue you often see in Europe.
6 comments:
I love the design of the new overpasses and interchanges along 465. Rather than a plain concrete structures with basic steel guardrails, we get textured concrete, faux arches (a la 71st Street/I-465), and interesting guardrails like this one. I know you can see this in other cities and states more and more, but it's still nice to see this kind of thoughtfulness around Indy. It's been said by the urbanophile that what's important is how a city treats its ordinary spaces. What can be more ordinary than a beltway-highway overpass?
Let's not be using un-Hoosier words like beltway. The beltway is I-495 around Washington. I-465 is I-465. Geez next you'll be calling this a metroplex. Yuk. Nice bridge there too.
I would love to see something like this on the bridges that cross 65 at fletcher & virginia.
I hate those things. They're ridiculous. Next thing you know our bridges will be as retarded as Chicago's newer ones. That would be a disaster to me. I'd much rather come up with a basic design with repeating elements - yes, better than INDOT standards, but not with all these bad decoration pieces. Would you put that star and swooping curvy staps as a decoration in your house - no way, unless you collect Longaberger baskets. I'd much prefer some of the infrastructure designs coming out of Spain or Melbourne - which aren't that much more expensive.
Hey Anonymous 7:18, just so you aren't confused, I-465 is, INDEED, a BELTWAY.
josh, I discussed the matter in my detailed review of this bridge. I admire the effort to do something nice, but feel the decoration has nothing to do with the overall design concept, nor does it relate in any significant way to Indianapolis.
If you are referring to the red downtown bridge rails in Chicago, I don't think they are super-great myself. But, that star and wavy line design is the city flag of Chicago. They did something that at least relates to their city.
I certainly like this better than the nuclear blue you often see in Europe.
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