Dynamic Materiality in Bridges. Connecting Historical Layers and Contemporary Design

This article examines the evolution of bridges through the lens of dynamic materiality, tracing how changes in social, cultural and technological contexts have shaped both their physical form and symbolic role. Materiality is understood not only as the use of materials, but as the relationship between humans and matter, evolving from the symbolic constructions of antiquity to today’s digitally driven processes where matter becomes information.

During the Renaissance, the emphasis shifted to structure, with the understanding and representation of forces and the behavior of materials becoming essential. Today, in the digital age, materiality is seen through the lens of event and information, where materials are not only physical elements, but also parts of a continuous informational process, allowing for new forms of interaction and adaptability.

Drawing on Antoine Picon’s framework of historical regimes: proportion, structure and event/information, the study interprets bridges as layered cultural artifacts. Historical examples such as the Rialto Bridge in Venice and Pont Royal in Paris are combined with modern and contemporary case studies, including Robert Maillart’s experimental concrete bridges and Marc Mimram’s digitally conceived projects. This selective, interpretative approach highlights how each era brings a new understanding of materiality and of the bridge’s role in urban and natural landscapes.

The article argues that contemporary bridges should be understood not only as rigid technical structures, but as dynamic public spaces, adaptable to their contexts and responsive to social interaction. By connecting historical layers with current design practices, this framework helps architects and engineers integrate past knowledge into contemporary projects, leading to infrastructure that is both contextually grounded and technically innovative.