Athensfan Posted May 8, 2012 Report Share Posted May 8, 2012 Funny you should say that, because I read this a few days ago: Balmond recalls: "Someone from the mayor's office said to me, 'Do you know the budget?' And I didn't. She said it was around £25m. And I thought, 'Oh Christ!' Because what we had I knew would cost £50m to £80m. So straight away we brought it down to as low as we could go and still get a good sightline into the stadium: 115 metres." ... Kapoor observes the Orbit is very much of its political moment: "The basic premise was to do everything you promised for about half the money," http://www.guardian....it-anish-kapoor I think this project has been value engineered to a huge extent. The problem I have with it isn't its weirdness or its ugliness or its confusing aesthetic - all of which could have been successful - but the fact that the metal cages surrounding the staircases look horrible, the viewing platform doesn't look great, the lift-shaft isn't well hidden, the membrabe barely covers anything (reducing its Kapoorness). It looks cheap and now we know that it was. I don't think tripling the budget would've made that thing any more attractive. I'm glad somebody saw got to cut the losses and cap the budget. I still think there are SO MANY better way to spend 25 million -- which is still a huge sum. It could've done much more good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted May 8, 2012 Report Share Posted May 8, 2012 I disagree, I think with better execution this could've looked good - glass barriers around the stairs rather than the conspicuous metal-mesh, a more "light" looking viewing platform, more of the shiny mebrane which has been cut short, a bit more height as originally envisaged etc. Just make the whole thing a lot tighter and smater. And sure, there are better ways to spend 20-odd million, but the vast bulk of that is from Mittal, not public money, so there are no "losses" as such. He's spent a small fraction of his vast wealth on a sculpture for London which is great, but it's also of course to 'advertise' his steel. I wonder if the richest man in Britain is wishing he'd put a bit more towards it now he's seen the final outcome? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tower Bridge Fox Posted May 8, 2012 Report Share Posted May 8, 2012 Glass barriers around the stairs noooooo. I love that view looking up at it. Its like a climbing plant growing up twisting and exploring ,looking for the light. With the viewing platform opening out like a flower at the top. I wonder if it will have a revolving interior like the post office tower And I wonder what will be inside a coffee shop a wine bar a restaurant or souvenir shop Or all. More importantly I wonder if James bond will be running up the spiral staircase.in the new film. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY20?? Posted May 8, 2012 Report Share Posted May 8, 2012 I think it would be considerably better if it simply wasn't done in lattice. And not in that color. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted May 8, 2012 Report Share Posted May 8, 2012 It's just a big old mess, I try to like it but I can't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainad Posted May 8, 2012 Report Share Posted May 8, 2012 It's just a big old mess, I try to like it but I can't. I guess you could say the same about Boris! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gotosy Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 ArcelorMittal’s $36.6 Million Tower Inaugurated in Olympic Park The ArcelorMittal Orbit is taller than Big Ben and the Statue of Liberty and twice as high as Nelson’s column in London’s Trafalgar Square. Like an oil rig twisting around itself, it is a spiraling 114.5-meter (377 foot) lattice of tubular steel. Mayor of London Boris Johnson persuaded ArcelorMittal to contribute as much as 19.6 million pounds toward the cost of the tower, which before the 2012 London Olympic Games, which run from July 27 to Aug. 12. The Orbit will have a two-level space at the top with a restaurant and a viewing gallery, to which high-speed lifts will take as many as 700 visitors an hour. “This 114.5-meter attraction to trump rivals the world over is a calling card for investment in east London,” Mayor Johnson said, describing the Orbit as “a symbol of prosperity and growth.” http://www.bloomberg...ympic-park.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevzz Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 Im surprised it's been completed. It still looks quite unfinished, esp the observation pod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerseyboi Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 bbc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matwin Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 I enjoy the spectacle of the structure, however, it looks unfinished. To me, the observation platform almost looks like it has been formed together by those temporary huts you find as extra classrooms in schools...or maybe just the one I went to I have one question though, why is the trumpet, that we are well accustomed with Kapoor's work, in orange rather than the red we normally see? Otherwise, I do enjoy her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bomberguy Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 When I am in London in July and I see it at night all lit up, I am sure it will look good. But from all the pictures I have seen during the day I can't say that I like it all. Personally I think it distracts against Olympic Stadium and it does not blend in well with its surroundings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevzz Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 Seems like the membrane sculpture became a steel trumpet thing... and it looks partial only not all the way up..... is that rusty colour deliberate or yet to be painted on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerseyboi Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 Seems like the membrane sculpture became a steel trumpet thing... and it looks partial only not all the way up..... is that rusty colour deliberate or yet to be painted on? His work is red and orange inspired from india.North park at the Olympic Park to open to Public in 2013. http://www.bbc.co.uk...london-18034343 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 15 GBP to climb this monstrosity post Olympics? They must be having a laugh, they should be paying people to go anywhere near this mess. A blight on the Olympic park, an eyesore for London. The Eiffel tower, I think not!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 £15 for an unspoilt view of the skyline sounds like a bargain to me I've read and heard a few reports today. “The beauty of radio is that you can’t see it” was one critic's point of view. And Kapoor seems unhappy with the ticket prices. Those who've been up it though seemed to enjoy the experience from the reports I've heard. By the sounds of it it works much better as a viewing tower than a sculptural work of art. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tower Bridge Fox Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 It looked great on the news today ,I see it most days from where I live, and its very uplifting. I agree with what one of the critics said that seeing it in real life is a completely difrent experince to a photograph. One issue though.Selling tickets for the Orbit that don’t admit you to the Olympic park is nuts though, The real price is going to be £25 at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevzz Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 I dont mind much about the red twisting design, thought it's at least unique. I just wished they put more thoughts and design into the observation pod and the spiral staircase. They just look under-designed and out of place Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bezzi Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 Can't they paint this thing of white? I think would be less ugly that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walei Posted May 16, 2012 Report Share Posted May 16, 2012 Everytime I see the tower I get reminded of Resident Evil with deformed biological creature due to the zombie virus... Not liking it and hope the tower has nothing to do with the cauldron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tower Bridge Fox Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 The real cost to go up the Orbit During the Olympic Olympic park Ticket £10 plus £6 delivery Orbit Ticket £15 plus £6 delivery Grand Total £37 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Anyone who pays anywhere near that price needs their head testing. What a joke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tower Bridge Fox Posted May 29, 2012 Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 Verey Pleased I finaly have a ticket for the Orbit. not pleased about having to pay another £6 delivery fee when I have already payed a delivery fee for another ticket on that day.greeeeee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MitchHM Posted May 29, 2012 Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 Likewise, but after over an hour of trying I did manage to get tickets for the Orbit for the evening of the men's 100m final between 9.30pm - 10.pm. It looks as though we should be able to get some good views of the track so I'm trying to convince myself that I was effectively buying two tickets to the men's 100m final for £36. Really nice picture by the way, Fox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevzz Posted May 29, 2012 Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 Likewise, but after over an hour of trying I did manage to get tickets for the Orbit for the evening of the men's 100m final between 9.30pm - 10.pm. It looks as though we should be able to get some good views of the track so I'm trying to convince myself that I was effectively buying two tickets to the men's 100m final for £36. Really nice picture by the way, Fox. That's actually quite clever, sneaky but clever! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tower Bridge Fox Posted June 16, 2012 Report Share Posted June 16, 2012 Great show on BBC2 right now. Into Orbit a culture show Special. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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