Miraflores bridge over the River Guadalquivir in Cordoba (Spain)

The present work has been an intricate collaboration between architecture and engineering. The basic idea envisaged the bridge assembly as a large minimalist sculpture set over the river. The system is formed by two very sturdy elements which are simple in form: - A large rectangular prismatic bar in weathering steel, serving as the deck; - A central element with a sharply tapered lenticular section, serving as the central pier and set orthogonally to the deck and parallel to the river current, with a stone external facing. In order to obtain the great slenderness demanded by the design, it was necessary to place a triple internal structural mechanism: center dot Elastic encasing cells at both abutments. center dot Rigid connection between pier and deck. center dot External prestressing at mid-span and over the central pier. The cross-section consists of two lateral box girder elements with double composite action connected by transversal composite trusses.