January 7, 2012

From neoclassical to funky

Jones Bridge in Manila
Jones Bridge is one of several bridges across the Pasig River that connects the district of Binondo to the rest of the City of Manila. The original bridge was built by the American colonial government but was destroyed during WWII. It was neoclassical in design and its entrances were flanked by pillars topped with statues, one of which happens to be La Madre Filipina in Rizal Park, a photo of which I posted back in February 2011 without knowing its history. The replacement bridge was and is much simpler and retains its original name, after Virginia representative William Atkinson Jones who authored the Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916. The city has tried to improve the current bridge in an effort to replicate the grace of the original, but I'm really not sure those street lamps cut it.

4 comments:

Lowell said...

Frankly, I think it is quite attractive but it's rather difficult to duplicate an original. In St. Augustine, Florida, they tore down an iconic old bridge and rebuilt it and it's never been the same!

Unknown said...

The street lamps are bad, I don't think it goes with the design of the bridge.

Francisca said...

The bridge is fine, but I am sure the street lamps do NOT cut it. Ugh! :-)

Halcyon said...

I was trying to figure out what you considered the "funky" part of the bridge. I must admit, I thought you were speaking about the zebra striping! But now that you mention the lamps, they are pretty awful!