From the first log thrust over a divide, bridges have united us, facilitating our need to explore and our desire to extend our mastery of physics. In this episode we look at bridges built by pre-industrial societies around the globe.

New materials spark evolution for bridge design throughout the Industrial Revolution; as societies shifted away from agrarian lifestyles, towards industrial economies. It’s all about iron and steel and the building of railways.

The bridge building boom continues worldwide, with young engineers striving to innovate with bold, structures made with a shiny new metal. Undeterred by the Great Depression large infrastructure projects keep economies going.

Designing bridges with a lifespan worthy of their considerable cost, is often easier said than done. For the best laid plans of engineers and architects often go awry.

Amidst WW2, battles were fought and won for bridges. Key to strategic manoeuvring across land, historic structures were often targets to acquire or destroy during wartime.

An era defined by greater collaboration between artists, architects and engineers. Their combined expertise pushes design principles to question of the fundamental purpose or mechanics of new structures.