Famous Parabolic Arches and Architects

Arc de Triomphe, Paris, France One of the most famous

monuments in Paris. It stands in the western end of the Champs-lyses
and honors those who fought and died for France in the French
Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars, with the names of all French
victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. It was
constructed in 1806-1836 and is 50 meters (164 ft) in high.The monument
was designed by Jean Chalgrin.

Arc de Triomphe, Paris, France

Jean Chalgrin

The Gateway Arch, St. Louis, United States A 630-foot (190 m)

monument in St. Louis, Missouri. Clad in stainless steel and built in the
form of an arch, it is the tallest man-made monument in the United
States, and the worlds tallest arch. To go to the top of the Arch, theres a
tram in each leg of the arch. Each tram is a chain of eight egg-shaped
compartments, each capable of holding five passengers. The trip to the

top takes four minutes. The Gateway Arch was designed by FinnishAmerican architect Eero Saarinen in 1947; construction began on
February 12, 1963, and was completed on October 28, 1965, for $13
million (equivalent to $180 million in 2013). The monument opened to the
public on June 10, 1967.

The Gateway Arch is really a monument to the 20th century and to the

height of American
power, says historian Tracy Campbell. Eero Saarinen, a Finnish-American

Rua Augusta Arch, Lisbon, Portugal This historical building

and visitor attraction in Lisbon was built to commemorate the
reconstruction of the city after the 1755 earthquake. The construction of
the monument took many years from 1755 till 1873.The allegorical

group at the top, made by French sculptor Clestin Anatole Calmels,

represents Glory rewarding Valor and Genius.

Rua Augusta Arch, Lisbon, Portugal

Arch of Cinquantenaire, Brussles, Belgium The Arch was

planned for the world exhibition of 1880 to commemorate the 50th
anniversary of Belgium as an independent country. However, the

construction was not completed in time. It took many more years but the
construction was finally completed in 1905, just in time for the 75th
anniversary of the independence of Belgium. The original pavilions of the
1880 exhibition, designed by Gdon Bordiau, were largely replaced with
the triumphal arcade designed by Charles Girault in 1904 and the large
halls on both sides.

Arch of Cinquantenaire, Brussles, Belgium

Arc de Triomf, Barcelona, Spain The Arc de Triomf in the capital

of Catalonia was built as the main access gate for the 1888 Barcelona

World Fair. It was built as the main access gate for the 1888 Barcelona
World Fair by architect Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas.

Arc de Triomf, Barcelona, Spain

Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas

Wartime brought major changes to timber construction technology in

Australia, particularly in the days following the Japanese attack on Pearl
Harbour.

In 1942, the country was threatened by invasion. Civilian uses of timber

were tightly controlled and domestic building without government consent
was prohibited. Large numbers of Allied troops and their masses of
equipment had to be housed and protected.
Enter a whole range of lean, strong and graceful timber-based designs not
previously known in Australia. Perhaps the most interesting were the
parabolic-arched timber structures called igloos in their initial form,
used to hide strike aircraft, but evolving to house all sorts of military
equipment.
Igloos were designed by French engineer Emile Brizay (19001983). After serving in World War I, he trained at Angers where he
received an engineering diploma in 1921. From 1923 he worked for the
pioneering, concrete engineer, Eugene Freysinnet on erection of the
Plougastel Bridge and aircraft hangers at Villacoublay. In 1926 Brizay
accepted a position in Singapore with a French colonial firm for whom he
designed and built buildings and bridges. He practiced privately from
1929, specialising in concrete and consulting with the Public Works
Department.