Jul 30 2007Bridge made from cardboard tubes
Japanese architect Shigeru Ban has introduced a bridge over the Gardon river in France made entirely out of cardboard tubes. The bridge is made from 281 cardboard tubs and is strong enough to carry 20 people at a time.
Weighing 7.5 tonnes, the bridge is made from 281 cardboard tubes, each 11.5 centimetres (four inches) across and 11.9 millimetres thick. The steps are recycled paper and plastic and the foundations wooden boxes packed with sand.
It's an impressive achievement, but what happens when it rains? Or if somebody drops a cigarette? I could make a safer bridge out of sticks of dynamite.
Paper bridge unveiled in southern France [France 24 via Boing Boing]
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Reader Comments
1. Joe Mamma - July 30, 2007 2:03 PM
Penis!!!
2. RandomNigel - July 30, 2007 3:08 PM
How could a bunch of cardboard way "7.5 tonnes"?!
And might I add: are those people really so stupid as to not be able to figure out that they can just WALK through that damn creek?
3. Jason Lee - July 30, 2007 3:13 PM
he built that total waste of shat over a 7 foot wide stream. hes a fuggin genius
4. whoneedsenemies - July 30, 2007 3:51 PM
Did someone pay this penis to do this?
5. Phil - July 30, 2007 4:31 PM
That bridge looks seriously steep on the far side. I assume those have to be stairs or something because it would be a bitch haul your way up that, especially if it was wet.
6. icweiner - July 30, 2007 4:40 PM
what you people dont know is that river isnt just any river it is a river made of pure evil and will devour your soul.
further more in order to get over said river you must hike up a 80 degree imbankment thus consuming more energy then needed to get over the river of damnation. it makes perfect logical sense......atleast in bizzaro land.
7. ladeda - July 30, 2007 4:42 PM
damn that man is sexy.
we are going to make sweet love on his bridge of tubes.
8. Owen - July 30, 2007 5:01 PM
The bridge is not a big truck - it's a series of tubes!
9. Claire - July 30, 2007 5:29 PM
now what would be impressive was if it was made out of toilet paper =]
except you probably get random people peeing near it so ya
10. Joe Mamma - July 30, 2007 5:33 PM
@ #3 The pic is deceiving. You have to realize that the asian people are quite small so in proportion a normal american male can just step over the 2 foot wide stream.
11. papa bear - July 30, 2007 6:16 PM
brilliant. let's make outdoor items out of low grade cardboard. that should end well. I hope they build a skyscraper outta toilet paper tubes and I can work on the top floor just to show how much faith I have in the idea of it all.
Tell my mother I love her...
http://www.sithomeandrot.com
12. RandomNigel - July 30, 2007 6:52 PM
@6, I AM pure evil.
I shall remain unaffected.
And so shall the rest of the asian population!
13. Cait - July 30, 2007 7:48 PM
281 cardboard tubes? Methinks not.
14. Hirudin - July 31, 2007 2:42 AM
Look, Robin, you don't have to do this. I mean, this ain't exactly the Mississipi. I'm on one side, I'm on the other side. I'm on the east bank, I'm on the west bank. It's not that critical.
...Achoo
15. Xi - July 31, 2007 8:54 AM
This architect has made a living of building with woods, cardboards and paper.
He's made some 20 stories building in Tokyo with just wood for the structure.
It might sounds crazy but woods or cardboard tubes have better caracteristics for fire resistance or eathrquake than standard concrete.
My 2 cts.
16. SuperStoned420 - August 1, 2007 1:29 AM
Shigeru Ban is awesome san!
Tanoshi! *peace sign*
17. Ryan - August 1, 2007 5:22 AM
what happens when it rains?! lol
18. Jon - February 22, 2008 11:20 AM
That's a serious architectural achievement...lets see all of you do that!