The Awful Tower – London’s Olympic tower criticized
The Orbit tower in London, or to use its full title, the ArcelorMittal Orbit, is a tall, twisting, red steel structure next to the Olympic Stadium. It was unveiled a few days ago and a section of the British press were not complimentary. It was called “Eye-Ful Tower” and “the Godzilla of public art.”
Designed by award-winning artist Anish Kapoor, the tower stands 377 feet – 22 feet higher than the Statue of Liberty. It features a 455-step stairway, two observation decks and a restaurant that offers 20-mile views of the capital city’s skyline. Visitors can pay $24 to visit the landmark during the Games.
Kapoor was inspired by the Eiffel Tower and notes that the famed Paris landmark was equally disliked in its time.
“I’ve just been reading all the criticism the Eiffel Tower received upon its opening,” he told reporters. “It was called the most horrendously ugly object but we don’t think about it like that anymore.”
But even he is surprised the Orbit got built. “Don’t you think it’s just amazing that they actually let us build this?” he asked The Guardian.
Critics have jumped on the Eiffel Tower comparison, making more puns than you can shake your latticed-steel at. A Times writer called it a “giant squiggle.” London residents are fond of referring to it as “Boris’s folly,” a reference to London mayor Boris Johnson, who helped spearhead the project. Another analyst called it a “mutant contortion.”
Not everyone dislikes the structure. The Telegraph gave it a rave review, agreeing with Kapoor’s assessment that Londoners would appreciate the tower far beyond the closing ceremony. There’s a reasonable chance that happens. Kapoor’s design has no relation to the Olympics other than it being built for the Olympics. There was no inspiration from athletics or togetherness or competition; it’s a twisting, red helix that is meant to signify a number of discrete events. Its lack of Olympic coherence might make it relevant beyond the Games
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I have seen it and I don’t hate it but it does remind me of Homer Simpson’s attempt to construct a barbecue in his garden. It’s not the first time someone with too much money has constructed something strange and anachronistic, consider Julius Drewe’s leaky Castle Drago.
A lot of Chicagoans hated the Chicago Picasso sculpture which stands in Daley Plaza. There were calls for it to be replaced with something “recognizable” and demands that it be sold for scrap. Today, you’d have a better chance of making Wayne LaPierre give up his favorite rifle or converting Pat Robertson the the Unification Church than getting rid of the Picasso. Maybe, given time, Londoners will similarly accept this tower.
The Orbit Tower kind of reminds me of a mutated DNA molecule! I’m a Science buff, so it’ll probably grow on me. Hopefully it doesn’t affect my own DNA. LOL