Probably one of the greatest British designers and visionaries of the 19th centuary and even up unitil this day his work has stood the test of time. He changed the landscape of the United Kingdom throughout the industrial revolution with his bridges, railways, tunnels, trains, buildings, ships, piers, stations, docks and a hospital.
“By his death the greatest of England's engineers was lost, the man with the greatest originality of thought and power of execution, bold in his plans, but right,” wrote Daniel Gooch of the great engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. “The commercial world thought him extravagant; but although he was so, great things are not done by those who sit down and count the cost of every thought and act.”
Sourced http://designmuseum.org/design/isambard-kingdom-brunel
What i like about Isambard Kingdom Brunel is his creations are ussable and look good at the same time, they don't seem to look out of place in todays modern world, maybe because the world has been built around them and they've been there for so long. His creations showcase a period of time when Britain was leading the world in design and enginering. We were waiting for the world to catch up, something we've lost today.
The Royal Albert bridge today does not look dated yet it was constructed in 1859, over 200 years old i think its a testiment to great design. Again its showing no challenge too small the way it stands over the tamar river almost over powering everything around it. Today now its accompanied by the road bridge next to it.
More things i like about Isambard kingdom Brunel is even the constructions no one will see even look great, like the arches in the thames tunnel, does its job and looks great as is the case with alot of Brunel's work. Like today we'd just get a tunnel built (Eurostar) out of concrete and thats all it would be, wouldn't have any of the art & design it would just do its job, which is good but Brunel made his designs into art.
How might Brunel influence by design & work in the future, well if i can design something which is still here in 200 years time then thats how. Not just to design something but then to make it last and influence other people at the same time. Brunel may of gone but folk use his creations everyday and probably without realising it which is in escence true design.
While researching Brunel i came across a tongue in cheek documenty of brunel's work "Great" very funny and quite intresting.
Links
part 1
part 2
part 3
Pictures
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