The Orbit | 115m | Visitor attraction | Completed - Page 44

LiamF1 · February 26th, 2011, 05:38 PM

I've always liked it, and still do.
It will look amazing from the helicopter shots too. It looks different from every angle.

SO143 · February 26th, 2011, 09:54 PM

image hosted on flickr

Orbit Tower Construction London 2012 by The Tower Bridge Fox, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Orbit Tower London 2012 Olympic Park by The Tower Bridge Fox, on Flickr

DarJoLe · February 26th, 2011, 09:57 PM

If you get into mindset of anti-design, or the chaos of life, in a sense 'ugly is reality therefore honest and sense making' the structure is amazing. Bit like the brand as well really.

maddderz · February 26th, 2011, 10:25 PM

You do have a point there.
Did I hear somewhere that when the Eiffel Tower was contrsucted, many thought that it was quite ugly?

bertyboy · February 27th, 2011, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddderz

You do have a point there.
Did I hear somewhere that when the Eiffel Tower was contrsucted, many thought that it was quite ugly?

Most Parisians hated it! It's only when they realised that the rest of the world had fallen in love with it did they change their mind.

Officer Dibble · February 27th, 2011, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarJoLe

If you get into mindset of anti-design, or the chaos of life, in a sense 'ugly is reality therefore honest and sense making' the structure is amazing. Bit like the brand as well really.

Isn't reality (and certainly the built environment, by definition) what we make it? So there may be an honesty in recognizing that much of what we've done and created in the past is ugly, but we can choose whether to 'make sense' of that by creating more ugliness, or to make up for it by creating beautiful things instead. No such luck here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddderz

Did I hear somewhere that when the Eiffel Tower was contrsucted, many thought that it was quite ugly?

Plenty still do, just as plenty of Londoners consider that, say, Tower Bridge is ugly, though it's become an icon of the city.

sgroutage · February 27th, 2011, 12:05 PM

del

potto · February 27th, 2011, 12:18 PM

I would chip in that this will highly likely end up on the art tour too as it is deemed sculpture by famous artist for example like the big bang in Manchester and Angel of the North. I think that gives it an edge.

RobH · February 27th, 2011, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarJoLe

If you get into mindset of anti-design, or the chaos of life, in a sense 'ugly is reality therefore honest and sense making' the structure is amazing. Bit like the brand as well really.

Hmmm.....interesting perspective.

The "anti-design" aesthetic is great as a way of hitting people between the eyes for the month of heightened excitement and emotions of a one off event. And it's great for reviving the idea of 'Olympic design', which has become a little staid in recent Games. London's Games will look like no other, that's for sure and I think that's fantastic!

But as a philosophy to underpin a permanant structure on London's skyline, I'm not so sure. In fact, I hope that's not the case. The Orbit is obviously not going to be beautiful in any kind of classical sense, but I hope it is interesting, substantial and quirky enough to overcome its superficial ugliness.

We'll have to wait and see...

LiamF1 · February 27th, 2011, 02:16 PM

I think it will date. And that it will date is a good thing. It will become part of the the architectural/artistic story of the turn of the century. The age of a brash technical modern art which is bound to make way for a more considered art as Earth's finite resources become the defining point of our lives this century. The QE Olympic Park marks that transition. It has examples such as this tower and the Aquatics Centre of an excess of steel in the name of form. The stadium and Velodrome are classics in their minimal use of structure. The completely temporary elements too are a sign of the future of such events; the Basketball Arena is superb in this sense.

London is the city that has everything, from all eras and all styles. I'm glad they'll be a monument for this age. It is quirky and random, but it will set up a concoction of contrasts that will be very stimulating in its final park land setting. It suits London I think.

SuttonBluenose · February 28th, 2011, 12:21 PM

It's like something you would see at a theme park!

I much prefer the digital cloud by tomas saraceno!

RobH · February 28th, 2011, 12:39 PM

A completely unrealistic proposal though, complete pie in the sky!

spindrift · February 28th, 2011, 01:33 PM

I wonder from how far away the Orbit will be visible?

Sesquip · February 28th, 2011, 03:06 PM

It looks good at the moment because of its purity of form. One material, one colour, one shape. That's what (to me) make kapoor so good- he can do so much with just a few ingredients. However, when this is finished, it will have multiple elements that distract from each other, with a confused and hard-to-read form.

DarJoLe · February 28th, 2011, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spindrift

I wonder from how far away the Orbit will be visible?

Not that far to be honest. Even in Stratford it won't be that visible with quite a few towers already going up.

It'll only be really when you're on the edge of the Park or slightly above ground level it will noticeable.

TallBox · February 28th, 2011, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarJoLe

If you get into mindset of anti-design, or the chaos of life, in a sense 'ugly is reality therefore honest and sense making' the structure is amazing. Bit like the brand as well really.

Just a nitpick... that's a pseudo-science misinterpretation used by loads of architects/designers/'creative' types I've met/worked with for artistic convenience; 'chaos of life' exists but chaos itself behaves in symmetry (equal and opposite effects) and nature therefore is a symmetric balance of gravitation, energy, dimension, pattern etc. Anish Kapoor's other work kind of conveyed this also (e.g. Cloud Gate looking like a piece of solder, efficient but not symmetric).

I think The Orbit looks contrived.

Sesquip · March 1st, 2011, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TallBox

I think The Orbit looks contrived.

Perfect word for it

His best things have just one shape. And for what that thing is, it's the only shape that thing could be. Stretch fabric between three rings in the turbine hall and you get Marsyas. It 'designs itself' with its own internal logic and structural requirements.

Orbit has no internal logic. It's a squiggle with a staircase and observation platform. Even without the circulation/access cluttering it up, it's a messy incoherent shape. Real shame

jerseyboi · March 2nd, 2011, 03:33 PM

[IMG]http://i53.************/2v9vp6a.png[/IMG]

jerseyboi · March 2nd, 2011, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonsterPug

I'm sure its been said but it looks like a twisted version of the Coney Island Parachute Jump...

http://dmsa.us/main.html

...I like the London Orbit IMO

lol

DarJoLe · March 4th, 2011, 06:26 PM

How many men does it take to build the 115-metre Orbit tower? Just these four
Louise Jury, Chief Arts Correspondent
4 Mar 2011

It already stands more than 42 metres high and is growing daily as new steel limbs arrive by the truck-load. But the ArcelorMittal Orbit, designed by Anish Kapoor as an artistic centrepiece for the Olympic Park in Stratford, is being constructed by just four men.

Mark Stowers is responsible for the crane, Kirk Bibly and Andrew Canning operate the two cherry pickers and Matthew Collier supervises as the star-like nodes of steel, each about 2.5 tonnes, are manoeuvred into place. The £19 million twisting tower will be 115 metres when complete. Construction is overseen by engineer Cecil Balmond of Arup.

February 26th, 2011, 09:57 PM	#863
DarJoLe Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Posts: 15,782 Likes (Received): 483	If you get into mindset of anti-design, or the chaos of life, in a sense 'ugly is reality therefore honest and sense making' the structure is amazing. Bit like the brand as well really. __________________ "I can quite confidently and with pride say that if everything goes to plan London 2012 will be the best Olympic Games and will surpass Barcelona and Sydney in terms of atmosphere, style and achievement. And not just about the sport. The whole city and its people will come alive and want to be a part of this. It just feels right." DarJoLe, May 19th 2006.

February 27th, 2011, 12:05 PM	#867
sgroutage Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 327 Likes (Received): 0	del Last edited by sgroutage; April 14th, 2012 at 04:21 AM.

March 4th, 2011, 06:26 PM	#880
DarJoLe Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Posts: 15,782 Likes (Received): 483	How many men does it take to build the 115-metre Orbit tower? Just these four Louise Jury, Chief Arts Correspondent 4 Mar 2011 It already stands more than 42 metres high and is growing daily as new steel limbs arrive by the truck-load. But the ArcelorMittal Orbit, designed by Anish Kapoor as an artistic centrepiece for the Olympic Park in Stratford, is being constructed by just four men. Mark Stowers is responsible for the crane, Kirk Bibly and Andrew Canning operate the two cherry pickers and Matthew Collier supervises as the star-like nodes of steel, each about 2.5 tonnes, are manoeuvred into place. The £19 million twisting tower will be 115 metres when complete. Construction is overseen by engineer Cecil Balmond of Arup. __________________ "I can quite confidently and with pride say that if everything goes to plan London 2012 will be the best Olympic Games and will surpass Barcelona and Sydney in terms of atmosphere, style and achievement. And not just about the sport. The whole city and its people will come alive and want to be a part of this. It just feels right." DarJoLe, May 19th 2006.

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February 26th, 2011, 05:38 PM	#861
LiamF1 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: London Posts: 297 Likes (Received): 1	I've always liked it, and still do. It will look amazing from the helicopter shots too. It looks different from every angle.

February 26th, 2011, 09:54 PM	#862
SO143 Maderator Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Bournemouth Posts: 22,579 Likes (Received): 1305	image hosted on flickr Orbit Tower Construction London 2012 by The Tower Bridge Fox, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Orbit Tower London 2012 Olympic Park by The Tower Bridge Fox, on Flickr

February 26th, 2011, 10:25 PM	#864
maddderz Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 137 Likes (Received): 0	You do have a point there. Did I hear somewhere that when the Eiffel Tower was contrsucted, many thought that it was quite ugly?

February 27th, 2011, 12:18 PM	#868
potto Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Posts: 13,605 Likes (Received): 424	I would chip in that this will highly likely end up on the art tour too as it is deemed sculpture by famous artist for example like the big bang in Manchester and Angel of the North. I think that gives it an edge.

February 27th, 2011, 02:16 PM	#870
LiamF1 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: London Posts: 297 Likes (Received): 1	I think it will date. And that it will date is a good thing. It will become part of the the architectural/artistic story of the turn of the century. The age of a brash technical modern art which is bound to make way for a more considered art as Earth's finite resources become the defining point of our lives this century. The QE Olympic Park marks that transition. It has examples such as this tower and the Aquatics Centre of an excess of steel in the name of form. The stadium and Velodrome are classics in their minimal use of structure. The completely temporary elements too are a sign of the future of such events; the Basketball Arena is superb in this sense. London is the city that has everything, from all eras and all styles. I'm glad they'll be a monument for this age. It is quirky and random, but it will set up a concoction of contrasts that will be very stimulating in its final park land setting. It suits London I think.

February 28th, 2011, 12:21 PM	#871
SuttonBluenose All Hail Carl Chinn Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Birmingham/Nottingham Posts: 1,495 Likes (Received): 5	It's like something you would see at a theme park! I much prefer the digital cloud by tomas saraceno!

February 28th, 2011, 12:39 PM	#872
RobH SPURRED Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: London / Kent Posts: 8,446 Likes (Received): 203	A completely unrealistic proposal though, complete pie in the sky!

February 28th, 2011, 01:33 PM	#873
spindrift Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1,595 Likes (Received): 84	I wonder from how far away the Orbit will be visible?

February 28th, 2011, 03:06 PM	#874
Sesquip Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,130 Likes (Received): 13	It looks good at the moment because of its purity of form. One material, one colour, one shape. That's what (to me) make kapoor so good- he can do so much with just a few ingredients. However, when this is finished, it will have multiple elements that distract from each other, with a confused and hard-to-read form.