Bambuco Bridge

The Bambuco Bridge was a temporary suspension structure made entirely from bamboo that crossed the River Tyne as an art installation. Spanning over 100 meters and reaching about 25 meters high, it connected Newcastle and Gateshead at a prominent location near historic buildings and landmarks.

The structure was erected in summer 2008 and consisted of hundreds of bamboo pieces assembled into this innovative form. It existed for only a few days as part of the opening program of a major art festival in the city.

The installation marked the opening of the SummerTyne festival, drawing crowds who came to experience this unusual structure in the city. It served as a symbol of artistic creativity and showed how art could temporarily transform the public space along the river.

The structure was not designed for traffic and only allowed passage as an art visitor. When crossing, visitors could observe the delicate bamboo framework up close and enjoy the view of the river and its banks.

The entire structure was assembled from approximately 800 individual bamboo pieces precision-fitted to create this complex form. Despite its size, the structure was remarkably lightweight and was completely dismantled once the festival ended.

Inception: July 18, 2008

GPS coordinates: 54.96917,-1.60389

Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:44