Tonkin Liu’s crowdfunded dinosaur bridge completes in Crystal Palace

The project was led by local group Friends of Crystal Place Dinosaurs, which launched a crowdfunder launched and raised £70,000 towards its construction. Additional funding was provided by the Greater London Authority.

The 8m crossing provides access to the 167-year-old concrete dinosaurs, built as life-size depictions of the prehistoric animals.

To protect access to the grade I-listed statues, the bridge has been designed to remain in the water and only swing to connect with land when staff need to maintain the dinosaurs or for educational trips.

When not in use the bridge will serve as a sculptural artwork floating in water, its deck inspired by the form of a prehistoric bony fish.

To save money and reduce the amount of materials used for the deck, Tonkin Liu proposed a laser-cut skeletal comb structural technique.

The plate was laser-cut to prongs of three different lengths, with one remaining flat to form the bridge deck, one bent up to form the balustrade and one bent down to form a strut to the lower edge of the central beam.

Practice director Mike Tonkin said: ‘The great advantage of the centre swing bridge is that it would be a water-bound swivel bridge, with no permanent connection to land, which with a chain could be locked in place surrounded by deep muddy water, removing temptation to cross to the protected island. This solution also needed only one central foundation submerged and hidden from view.’

Ellinor Michel, of Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, said accessing the island was vital for protecting the sculptures, but this had proved difficult since a previous bridge was removed in 2017.

She said: ‘The bridge has not only solved a practical challenge but has added to the beauty of the park, brought together the community and raised our capabilities as a charity. Visitors love the bridge, giving overwhelmingly positive, deep appreciation.’

Tonkin Liu worked on the construction of the bridge with engineer Arup, and locally-based fabricator Cake Industries.