Sam Crawford designs an eel-shaped aluminium bridge for the Centennial Parklands, Sydney

Sam Crawford’s aluminium-clad Bara Bridge in Sydney for Centennial Park & Moore Park Trust resembles the shape of the migratory eels found in the region. The existing pedestrian bridge has been discarded to begin the construction of the complex Light Rail.

The bridge has been aligned with anodized aluminium balusters that shine when sunlight falls on it and the water beneath, creating a spectacular sight.

The newly built bridge is spread 40m across Kensington Pond and is very crucial for the smooth transport of southern pedestrians and cycle riders to the Centennial Parklands, reinstating the Park’s accessibility. The bridge also joins the gap between the Kensington residents and the wider cycle of riding or hiking enthusiasts.

The founder and director of Sam Crawford Architects (SCA), Sam Crawford, elucidated: “The shape, movement and colour of the long-finned eels are reflected in the form and materiality of the bridge design.”

“The bridge celebrates ancient Indigenous culture and is an environmentally sensitive addition to the vast Centennial Parklands, linking them to surrounding areas in inner Sydney,” he added to his observation.

The Parklands’ ponds are the dwelling zone for ‘bara’; the long-finned eel and the unique blueprint of the bridge can be attributed to those creatures. Sam Crawford has loosely based his eccentric design on the shape of the ‘bara’ long-finned eel, as it is very pious to the regional culture. Also, the bridge overlooks a waterbody full of eels and other aquatic specimens.

The prime agenda of the project team was to amalgamate competing levels of construction tolerance. The driven piles had a tolerance level of 50 millimetres, the primary steel structure a tolerance of 10 millimetres, and the secondary aluminium structure less than 3 millimetres.

Anodised aluminium was chosen for the making of this bridge by Sam Crawford because of its colour and, most importantly, the 100 per cent recyclability rate.

Crawford goes on to please his audience: “The 40-metre-long bridge sits lightly above a pond system, making an iconic entrance but also sitting harmoniously within the natural environment.”

“Other gateways to the Park all reflect European sensibilities, but our design commemorates centuries of Indigenous culture. And it also references the materiality and colours of the Park’s existing infrastructure,” he explains.

The bridge becomes broader at the centre to feature a viewing platform where pedestrians can stop and appreciate the aquatic life below.

The second stage of this particular project is still under scrutiny and has been initiated in partnership with Lymesmith and Christie Fearns, who would deliver proper insight into developing this over-the-water gateway to the Parklands.