Bromley Council and Crystal Palace Park Trust have delivered a major phase of the regeneration of Crystal Palace Park, one of the UK's most important historic parks!
HTA were appointed by Bromley Council in 2023 as Lead Consultant and Landscape Architect, leading a multidisciplinary team of 20 specialist consultants from concept design through to the delivery of one of London's most ambitious heritage-led landscape regeneration projects.
The design reinterprets Paxton’s legacy through three layers that connect past, present and future: restoring the park’s historic assets, revitalising it as an inclusive, biodiverse and adaptable landscape, and reimagining its role as a place of learning, discovery and enjoyment for future generations.
The Grade I listed dinosaurs have been meticulously restored, with paint analysis identifying the original 1850s colours to create a striking display that enhances the educational value and theatrical experience of the setting. We used various techniques, including specialised cleaning, structural repairs, and 3D printing, to restore 14 geological displays and 30 dinosaur sculptures.
The half kilometre-long Grade II listed Italian Terraces represent the last surviving element of Crystal Palace at its original monumental scale. The restoration works reinstate all missing components of the Upper and Lower Terraces walls with 1600 individual pieces of Bath stone and 2600 pieces of cast stone. In addition, four of the terrace statues have been repaired adding to the grandeur of the space.
The Grand Centre Walk, Paxton’s primary spine unifying the park from the Tidal Lakes up to the Italian Terraces, has been restored to its original width of 96 ft (29.26 m) improving legibility, accessibility, and hierarchy.
The new Visitor Centre offers a space for all ages to explore the park’s history and future aspirations. It was constructed on the site of a former prefabricated building, reusing existing foundations to reduce the carbon footprint by 20 tonnes while protecting the surrounding tree roots.
