Bara Bridge, Centennial Parklands

‘Bara’ eel migration spawns shimmering sinuous bridge.

The design of a new pedestrian and cycle bridge in Centennial Park was inspired by the shape of ‘bara’ eels and their migration to the Pacific Ocean from the very pond it traverses.

 

 

The sinuous curved shape of the bridge recalls the movement of the eels which swim slowly by means of lateral movements of the body. As they move, they shimmer.

The bridge’s railings are made of different coloured anodised aluminium fanning out at the centre, echoing the skeletal structure and dynamism of the eel. They shimmer in the sunlight, reflect off the surface of the water, just like the eels’ silvery underbelly. Colours, also inspired by the local Eastern Suburb Banksia Scrub, were selected for camouflage and movement.

Other gateways to the park reflect European sensibilities but this contemporary connection commemorates millennia of Indigenous culture. The accessible gateway replaces a decaying and inaccessible pedestrian bridge and connects the park to a new light rail station and broader pedestrian/cycle networks.

The 40 metre bridge sits lightly above a pond, protecting banks from erosion, preserving habitat for endangered species and inviting visitors to directly engage with the ecosystem.

The bridge widens at the centre to form a viewing platform, allowing pedestrians to pause and appreciate the flora and fauna, such as endangered banksia scrubs and native grasses.

Materials were carefully chosen for their low maintenance, durability, and recyclability: local spotted gum handrails and kerbs, sandstone paving and retaining blocks, lightweight, non-slip fibreglass reinforced plastic mesh (FRP) bridge deck, anodised aluminium balustrade and painted steel super-structure.

To minimise disturbance to the pond ecosystem just three piles were driven into the pond-bed. A four prong cruciform steel structure from each pile supports the bridge and provides both lateral and longitudinal stability.

To ensure accuracy and minimise waste the entire structure and balustrade was assembled offsite and reassembled on site.

Bara Bridge, Centennial Parklands Gallery

Project info	Details
Team	Sam Crawford, Ben Chan, Imogene Tudor, Ken Warr
Builder	Christie Civil
Consultants	Interpretation Strategy : Lymesmith with Christie Fearns Graphic Design Accessibility : Morris Goding Access Consulting Geotech: JK Geotechnics Structural Engineer: Simpson Design Associates Surveyor: Opus Quantity Surveyor: Altus Page Kirkland
Client	Centennial Park & Moore Park Trust
Photographer	Brett Boardman
Awards	2022 AIA NSW Award for Small Project Architecture – Shortlisted 2023 Barcelona International Landscape Biennial – Selected Project
Published	ArchDaily ArchitectureAU Landscape First Dezeen Architecture&Design Arqa Arquitecturaydiseno
Completion	2021

 

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