Rob2012 Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 I think it'll look 1000 times better in the flesh. Scaled up to life size it won't look so fiddly and messy; I think it'll look airier in real life than in the pictures. My concern is how it'll look opposite the cauldron tower or, if that idea's been scrapped, whether the flame will be dwarfed by it in 2012. I hope it doesn't overwhelm what ought to be the most important thing in the Olympic Park in the two weeks of the Olympics. I mean, this thing is HUGE. It's all very well looking at pictures of it like this because it's an overhead view: But if the stadium looks like this from ground level, imagine what this sculpture is going to look like! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gdodds Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 Paint it in the Olympic rings colours, then it'll look slightly better. Also, Boris Johnson on BBC News "Paris has the eiffel tower, we need to have the... something" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 I always took the London Eye to be our equivilent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 Trouble is...it's even too...what's the word? spasmodic...form-wise to sell as compact souvenirs. I mean the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Blbd., Rio's Christ the Redeemer...even the Leaning Tower of Pisa...all have that easy linearity that makes for compact stacking and sales as scale-model/tourist souvenirs. And you have the small-time merchants trying to move this...globby thing as souvenirs? I wouldn't want a copy of that thing sitting on my shelf with my other souvenirs. I fear many souvenir merchants are going to take a bath with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gotosy Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 well the viewing platform will give a fantastic view of the olympic park Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stir.ts Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 I think it'll look 1000 times better in the flesh. Scaled up to life size it won't look so fiddly and messy; I think it'll look airier in real life than in the pictures. Architectural renderings always look better that the real thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 Not always, the building next door to this monument is an example to the contrary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4gamesandcounting Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 Don't think we will see the cauldron on top of this - could look a little Atlanta 1996 Cauldron tower if that happens? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 Architectural renderings always look better that the real thing. I agree. If MO weren't on leave, he would say the same thing. In renderings, you can stretch and bend the perspectives...but not in real-life views. That thing is just UGLY...follows no known aesthetic shape. And they're going to have a platform overlooking the stadium during the Games? Wait until LOCOG and the IOC realize that people with cameras who didn't buy tickets have free viewing access to events inside the stadium from the observation deck...and they're going to raise a stink. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citius Altius Fortius Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 Also, Boris Johnson on BBC News "Paris has the eiffel tower, we need to have the... something" LOL - I would have never compared it with the Tour Eiffel... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Tickle Posted March 31, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 Im sure it will grow on me, Ive realised why it disturbs me though. In that red colour it reminds me of someones intestines. Sorry but it does. Im looking forward to going up it though. I think its just so different thats the problem. People hated the Angel of the North when that was first shown, now the nation loves it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 I mean even the Watts Towers in the godforsaken section of LA look more like Gaudi's unfinished towers in Barcelona and at least have some symmetry to them than this godawful London design!! http://www.biocrawler.com/w/images/2/23/Watts-towers.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 Im sure it will grow on me, Ive realised why it disturbs me though. In that red colour it reminds me of someones intestines. Sorry but it does. Im looking forward to going up it though. I think its just so different thats the problem. People hated the Angel of the North when that was first shown, now the nation loves it. Did they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Tickle Posted March 31, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 God yes From an article I found on its anniversary Of course there had been objections to it before it was completed. A lot of objections. Much of the reporting at the time in the local press was hostile (one of the juicier headlines in the Gateshead Post being ‘Nazi…But Nice?’ in reference to the alleged similarities between Gormley’s creation and a sculpture that was built in 1930’s Germany to celebrate the Luftwaffe); letters pages overflowed with angry comments; radio phone-in shows had their switchboards jammed as people queued up to declare that the money would be ‘better spent on a hospital’; and some councillor’s were quick to strike a disapproving tone. Too big, too expensive, its always the way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 I'd love to say I am shocked and surprised, but I'm honestly not. You just knew this monument was going to be hideous from the get-go. While the logo has grown on me, this thing most definitely won't. A mangled piece of junk is what the Olympic park is getting, which completely blights what is turning out to be an attractive looking park. Wasted opportunity, once again! That thing is just UGLY...follows no known aesthetic shape. I agree, it's a monstrosity! It defies belief how this was selected.... UH! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 It's almost as though, London is trying so hard to be 'different' & 'bold' that they are losing their identity in the process. This is hardly creative or 'British'... they could have done so so much with this monument. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Rols Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 LOL - I would have never compared it with the Tour Eiffel... I would actually. In fact, as soon as I saw ... it ... I already thought the French would joke that Les Rosbifs were trying to recreate the Eiffel Tower - and it melted! Sacre bleu! Maybe it's just a April 1 joke? C'mon Boris, funny one. Show us the real tower now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkiFreak Posted April 1, 2010 Report Share Posted April 1, 2010 Looks like a pile of scrap metal. Anyway, here's an article with video on the BBC: Anish Kapoor chosen for landmark 2012 sculpture If they want to go sustainable, maybe they can hang some solar panels off of it or something, with a wind turbine up top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olympian2004 Posted April 1, 2010 Report Share Posted April 1, 2010 It's not only ugly, it's fu**ing ugly. It makes even the hideous first design, the pylon, look beautiful. I think Boris Johnson said it best (albeit in a different context): It's a huge inverted pyramid of piffle -- and I honestly hope they rather shove this up his rear instead of really building it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demetrius Posted April 1, 2010 Report Share Posted April 1, 2010 It makes even the hideous first design, the pylon, look beautiful. Unfortunately, that's true. London deserves something of much better. It is neither audacious, nor innovating, nor even elegant... It's a pity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevzz Posted April 1, 2010 Report Share Posted April 1, 2010 Maybe there will be an Indian flag on top of the tower. The designer, engineer and steel manufacturer are all of Indian/ Pakistani origin hehe. Maybe there will be an Indian flag on top of the tower. The designer, engineer and steel manufacturer are all of Indian/ Sri Lankan origin hehe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brekkie Boy Posted April 1, 2010 Report Share Posted April 1, 2010 It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't right in the heart of the games - it would probably look slightly better if it could be seen in the distance from the Olympic Stadium rather than right next to it. I share concerns about the Cauldron too - would have been much better the money used to finance a cauldron tower which would have a lasting legacy as a high rise viewing platform, not that one is needed in that part of London. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrianme17 Posted April 1, 2010 Report Share Posted April 1, 2010 on 1st view was not sure about it - am still not sure about it but jesus christ cut all the histrionics! it's only a tower - it's not the end of the world! had hope for something elegant - but this is it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrisL93 Posted April 1, 2010 Report Share Posted April 1, 2010 If it didn't look so mechanical and the tunnel-like things would be more smooth maybe it would be a more convincing design Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted April 1, 2010 Report Share Posted April 1, 2010 I'm willing to give it a chance. I don't love it but I don't hate it. I'm reserving judgement until it's built, partly because I think life size it'll look less busy, more airy and more impressive, and partly because I think this artist is very capable of pulling something stunning out of the bag. My only real concern at the moment is how it looks opposite the Olympic flame. I'd have no problems with this if it was to be built after 2012, but I'm nervous about it at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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