The Rolling Bridge

The Rolling Bridge was designed by Thomas Heatherwick and completed in two thousand four to solve a simple problem of navigation at the Paddington Basin. Most bridges are built to stay put, but this crossing needed to retract to allow boats access to the canal inlet. Heatherwick took inspiration from the fluid, coiling movements of animatronic dinosaurs seen in the film Jurassic Park. The result is a structure that does not lift or swing away like a traditional drawbridge, but instead curls into a perfect octagonal sculpture at the water’s edge.