Architectural firm Urban Nouveau have proposed to inject new life into the disintegrating Old Lidingö Bridge in Stockholm by transforming the structure into a residential community and public pedestrian park.

Drawing inspiration from the High Line sky garden and walkway in Manhattan, the firm outlined a plan to design 50 apartments and a green expanse in the steel latticework edifice.

The bridge, which has connected eastern Stockholm to the island of Lidingö since the 1920s, has recently been marked for demolition.

In a statement, Urban Nouveau said the new building would be "a social and ecological pedestrian connection between Stockholm and Lidingö" which could resolve "the tram and cycle lanes" and save the Lidingö council SK113m (US$12.7m, €11m, £9.7m).

After their original proposal was rejected by the council on 12 September, the firm launched a petition on Change.org.

Urban Nouveau CEO Sara Göransson called the rejection "entirely out of step with our heritage and beliefs".

"We believe demolishing a landmark bridge like this is truly a backward step," she explained, "particularly when we have a fully costed and technically sound alternative that means we can save the bridge and provide a beautiful park for the whole of Stockholm."

The petition, which has already attracted over 1850 signatures, is directed to Stockholm’s mayor, Daniel Källenfors.