Step-stone bridge
Encyclopedia
A Step-stone bridge is a simple bridging
allowing a pedestrian
to cross a natural watercourse or pond, or a garden's water feature
where water is allowed to course between stone steps. Unlike other bridges it has no spans. Step-stone bridges, along with log bridge
s are likely to be the oldest bridge types. They are often built by hikers and disarranged during periods of high, fast water.
In Landscape design
and Garden design
, Step-Stone bridges cross natural landscape
style and Asian themed water features and "dry landscape" symbolic "water gardens."
s and Japanese garden
s, and Zen rock gardens. It is a principal bridge types in these gardens, along with Moon bridge
s.
A Zig-zag bridge
was traditionally used to allow the pedestrian to fool and evade "evil spirits" following them, and used in Zen gardens for mindfulness practice.
traditional water garden and reflecting pool
landscapes the stepping stones may be crisp rectilinear forms of stone with honed or flame treated surfaces.
Stones wider than thick may be securely mounted in a "mushroom with stalk" method, with the support stem hidden below the water's surface for a floating aesthetic.
Modernist urban park
landscapes, such as the Seattle Freeway Park and Keller Fountain Park
, Downtown Portland
with elevation changes of the massive step stones - by landscape architect
Lawrence Halprin
, continue the evolution of the step-stone bridge and water.
or concrete in cube or faux-natural forms. The top surface may be smoothed (or carefully roughened) in an even plane by a stonemason to minimize tripping.
The Drukken Steps
in the Eglinton Woods of North Ayrshire
in Scotland
were a favourite haunt of the renowned poet
Robert Burns
, and his companion Richard Brown, whilst the two were living in Irvine
from 1781 to 1782.
The name 'Drukken' steps derives from a person's gait as they stepped from stone to stone whilst crossing the Red Burn. Seven or more stones were originally set in the Red Burn which was much wider than now (2009).
Burns himself used the Scots spelling 'Drucken' rather than 'Drukken'. The ruins of the Drukken Steps are now found in the Eglinton Country Park
.
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
allowing a pedestrian
Pedestrian
A pedestrian is a person traveling on foot, whether walking or running. In some communities, those traveling using roller skates or skateboards are also considered to be pedestrians. In modern times, the term mostly refers to someone walking on a road or footpath, but this was not the case...
to cross a natural watercourse or pond, or a garden's water feature
Water feature
In landscape architecture and garden design, a water feature is one or more items from a range of fountains, pools, ponds, cascades, waterfalls, and streams. Before the 18th century they were usually powered by gravity, though the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon are described by Strabo as...
where water is allowed to course between stone steps. Unlike other bridges it has no spans. Step-stone bridges, along with log bridge
Log bridge
A log bridge is a bridge that uses logs that fall naturally or are intentionally felled or placed across streams. The first manmade bridges with significant span were probably intentionally felled trees. The use of emplaced logs is now sometimes used in temporary bridges used for logging roads,...
s are likely to be the oldest bridge types. They are often built by hikers and disarranged during periods of high, fast water.
Garden crossings
Landscape design
Landscape design is an independent profession and a design and art tradition, practised by landscape designers, combining nature and culture. In contemporary practice landscape design bridges between landscape architecture and garden design.-Design scope:...
and Garden design
Garden design
Garden design is the art and process of designing and creating plans for layout and planting of gardens and landscapes. Garden design may be done by the garden owner themselves, or by professionals of varying levels of experience and expertise...
, Step-Stone bridges cross natural landscape
Natural landscape
A natural landscape is a landscape that is unaffected by human activity. A natural landscape is intact when all living and nonliving elements are free to move and change. The nonliving elements distinguish a natural landscape from a wilderness. A wilderness includes areas within which natural...
style and Asian themed water features and "dry landscape" symbolic "water gardens."
Asian gardens
Step-Stone bridges are seen in traditional and contemporary Chinese gardenChinese garden
The Chinese garden, also known as a Chinese classical garden, is a style of landscape garden which has evolved for more than three thousand years, and which is inspired by Chinese literature, Chinese painting and Chinese philosophy...
s and Japanese garden
Japanese garden
, that is, gardens in traditional Japanese style, can be found at private homes, in neighborhood or city parks, and at historical landmarks such as Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and old castles....
s, and Zen rock gardens. It is a principal bridge types in these gardens, along with Moon bridge
Moon bridge
A moon bridge is a highly arched pedestrian bridge, which in its wooden form may require the walker to initially climb and also when descending. This type is associated with gardens in China and Japan...
s.
A Zig-zag bridge
Zig-zag bridge
A zig-zag bridge is a pedestrian bridge composed of short segments, each set at an angle relative to its neighbors and usually with an alternating right and left turn required when traveling across the bridge...
was traditionally used to allow the pedestrian to fool and evade "evil spirits" following them, and used in Zen gardens for mindfulness practice.
Euro-American gardens
In classic and formal western cultureWestern culture
Western culture, sometimes equated with Western civilization or European civilization, refers to cultures of European origin and is used very broadly to refer to a heritage of social norms, ethical values, traditional customs, religious beliefs, political systems, and specific artifacts and...
traditional water garden and reflecting pool
Reflecting pool
A reflecting pool or reflection pool is a water feature found in gardens, parks, and at memorial sites. It usually consists of a shallow pool of water, undisturbed by fountain jets, for a calm reflective...
landscapes the stepping stones may be crisp rectilinear forms of stone with honed or flame treated surfaces.
Stones wider than thick may be securely mounted in a "mushroom with stalk" method, with the support stem hidden below the water's surface for a floating aesthetic.
Modernist urban park
Urban park
An urban park, is also known as a municipal park or a public park, public open space or municipal gardens , is a park in cities and other incorporated places to offer recreation and green space to residents of, and visitors to, the municipality...
landscapes, such as the Seattle Freeway Park and Keller Fountain Park
Keller Fountain Park
Keller Fountain Park is a city park in downtown Portland, Oregon. Originally named Forecourt Fountain or Auditorium Forecourt, the park opened in 1970 across Third Avenue from what was then Civic Auditorium. In 1978, the park was renamed after Ira Keller, head of the Portland Development...
, Downtown Portland
Downtown Portland
Downtown Portland, the city center of Portland, Oregon, United States, is located on the west bank of the Willamette River. It is in the northeastern corner of the southwest section of the city and is where most of the city's high-rise buildings are found....
with elevation changes of the massive step stones - by landscape architect
Landscape architect
A landscape architect is a person involved in the planning, design and sometimes direction of a landscape, garden, or distinct space. The professional practice is known as landscape architecture....
Lawrence Halprin
Lawrence Halprin
Lawrence Halprin was an influential American landscape architect, designer and teacher.Beginning his career in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, in 1949, Halprin often collaborated with a local circle of modernist architects on relatively modest projects. These figures included William...
, continue the evolution of the step-stone bridge and water.
Construction and aesthetics
Natural step-stones are usually quarried from rough blocks or large flat river rocks worn smooth. Some step-stone bridges are made with cast stoneCast stone
Cast stone is defined as “a refined architectural concrete building unit manufactured to simulate natural cut stone, used in unit masonry applications”. In the UK and Europe cast stone is defined as “any material manufactured with aggregate and cementitious binder, intended to resemble in...
or concrete in cube or faux-natural forms. The top surface may be smoothed (or carefully roughened) in an even plane by a stonemason to minimize tripping.
A Historic step-stone bridge
Drukken Steps
The Drukken or Drucken Steps were stepping stones across the Red Burn in Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland and are associated with Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns...
in the Eglinton Woods of North Ayrshire
North Ayrshire
North Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas in Scotland with a population of roughly 136,000 people. It is located in the south-west region of Scotland, and borders the areas of Inverclyde to the north, Renfrewshire to the north-east and East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire to the East and South...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
were a favourite haunt of the renowned poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
Robert Burns
Robert Burns
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
, and his companion Richard Brown, whilst the two were living in Irvine
Irvine, North Ayrshire
Irvine is a new town on the coast of the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland. According to 2007 population estimates, the town is home to 39,527 inhabitants, making it the biggest settlement in North Ayrshire....
from 1781 to 1782.
The name 'Drukken' steps derives from a person's gait as they stepped from stone to stone whilst crossing the Red Burn. Seven or more stones were originally set in the Red Burn which was much wider than now (2009).
Burns himself used the Scots spelling 'Drucken' rather than 'Drukken'. The ruins of the Drukken Steps are now found in the Eglinton Country Park
Eglinton Country Park
Eglinton Country Park is located in the grounds of the old Eglinton Castle estate, Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, Scotland . Eglinton Park is situated in the parish of Kilwinning, part of the former district of Cunninghame, and covers an area of 400 hectares...
.
See also
- Clapper bridgeClapper bridgeA clapper bridge is an ancient form of bridge found on the moors of Devon and in other upland areas of the United Kingdom including Snowdonia and Anglesey...
- FootbridgeFootbridgeA footbridge or pedestrian bridge is a bridge designed for pedestrians and in some cases cyclists, animal traffic and horse riders, rather than vehicular traffic. Footbridges complement the landscape and can be used decoratively to visually link two distinct areas or to signal a transaction...
- Ford (crossing)Ford (crossing)A ford is a shallow place with good footing where a river or stream may be crossed by wading or in a vehicle. A ford is mostly a natural phenomenon, in contrast to a low water crossing, which is an artificial bridge that allows crossing a river or stream when water is low.The names of many towns...
- KulgrindaKulgrindaKūlgrinda is a hidden underwater stony road or ford across swamps and swampy areas used for defense in the history of Lithuania...