Landscape Design

The London Borough of Bromley has appointed HTA Design as Lead Consultant and Landscape Architect of a multi-disciplinary team of 20 specialist consultants to develop the first phase of the Crystal Palace Park Regeneration Plan from concept to full detail design and construction. Originally designed by Sir Joseph Paxton in the 1850s, the Grade II* Listed Park showcases human evolution from prehistory, represented by the iconic Dinosaur sculptures, to the grandeur of the Victorian era, symbolised by the Crystal Palace itself, relocated to the site from Hyde Park after the 1851 Great Exhibition. The regeneration proposals will reveal and restore the Grade I listed Geological Court, which includes the Tidal lakes and Dinosaur sculptures as well as the Grade-II listed Italian Terraces, while creating a park that is inclusive, biodiverse, resilient to climate change, and adaptable for a wide range of events and activities. New visitor facilities include a Dinosaur themed play area, a Visitor Centre, heritage trails, and reinstating the Grand Centre Walk to its full width reconnecting it to a new landmark gateway. The landscape design approach maximises park ecosystem service benefits and prioritises accessibility, to ensure that the park can be enjoyed by the wider community while boosting biodiversity.

The Geological Court, home to the ‘Crystal Palace Dinosaurs’ was created by Paxton in the 1850s as a primitive landscape of water and geological strata portraying Britain’s geology. Our specialist team in collaboration with experts at Historic England have developed detailed proposals for the restoration of 30 Grade-I listed Dinosaur sculptures and 14 Geological Illustrations, including the removal of layers of vegetation and sediment built-up since the 1850s to reveal the site’s original features. The design will introduce a new layer of rock outcrops, gravel formations and paleo-inspired planting that will enhance the geological narrative, reigniting visitors' imagination, and the Victorian sense of wonder for pre-history. The restoration of the Geological Court is made possible thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The first phase will also include the restoration and upgrade of the Italian Terraces, where the Crystal Palace once stood before it was destroyed by fire in 1936. The proposals include repairing the Grade II listed terrace walls and balustrades and reshaping the landscape to improve views and accessibility. The restoration of the Italian Terraces will bring back some of the park’s original horticultural spectacle through varied biodiverse meadows and species rich grassland planting, while supporting the seasonal events programmed for the park. New sensitively sculpted ramps and seating areas will be integrated in the park to maximise visitor enjoyment of the monumental scale space.

Sustainability is a core principle of the project. Measures include minimising imported materials, reusing site-won soil, using nature-based solutions and repurposing lake silt to create marginal habitats that enhance biodiversity and regulate water temperature. HTA Design successfully led the team to secure Reserved Matters Planning Permission and Listed Building Consents in June 2024 and continues to oversee works during the construction phase. The project forms part of a wider Regeneration Plan for Crystal Palace Park that is being co-delivered by the London Borough of Bromley and Crystal Palace Park Trust, and with the support of various partners including Historic England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, various Friends groups and other stakeholders. Construction is underway, with completion expected in Summer 2026.

HTA have designed a new playground for Bromley Council as part of the Regeneration Plan for the Park. Co-delivered with Crystal Palace Park Trust, the bespoke play structures have been provided by PlayEquip and the play area has been constructed by Maylim. Over 170 years ago, Sir Joseph Paxton designed Crystal Palace Park as a ‘journey through time’ beginning in prehistory. His Geological Court is home to the world-famous dinosaur sculptures and geological Illustrations which were the world’s first attempt to bring prehistoric creatures to life for the public. The play area acts as an immersive paleontological dig site, where layers of geology, fossils and prehistoric creatures are revealed. Large play structures, inspired by the iconic dinosaur forms, emerge from the landscape to spark curiosity, and encourage imaginative play and discovery.

The play area has been shaped through a co-designed process with local children and families. Community events in the park, along with art and play workshops in nearby schools, invited people of all ages to contribute, generate conversation, and help shape the future of play in the park. From these workshops, the children's favourite dinosaurs; Megalosaurus, Hylaeosaurus and Iguanodon, have each been woven into key playground features, while swinging and climbing emerged as the most popular play activities and are thoughtfully integrated throughout the design. Inclusive and accessible play features ensure that children of all abilities can explore, interact, and develop play skills at their own pace.

To bring the play area to life, slides have been carved into the embankment imitating dinosaur claw marks, while dinosaur-spine-inspired structures create opportunities for climbing, swinging, sliding and balancing. A giant Hylaeosaurus skull encourages children to climb and slide through the beast’s open jaws. Meanwhile, a winding dinosaur tail forms a playful route across an undulating mound, leading to a sandpit shaped like an enormous dinosaur footprint, perfect for fossil hunting, tactile discovery, and imaginative play for children of all ages. Inspired from the Victorian Geological Illustrations within the park, a wall of layered rocks and climbable boulders invites children to explore geology in a playful, tactile way. Surrounding the space, ‘paleo-planting’, drawing on prehistoric plant species, frames the play area and offers opportunities to learn about plant evolution and environmental change through time.