Thursday, April 17, 2014

O- Orbit

O- Orbit
Mobile musings - the theme for this A to Z
challenge features a blog with pictures
clicked by me on my mobile phone
Arcelor Mittal - Orbit
Photo shot on Nokia 520
March 2014
Stratford, London, U.K  


Apparently Laxmi Mittal, arguably the richest man in London and Boris Johnson the Mayor of London who were attending two different conferences found  each other at the adjacent ones in the Gentlemen's  at a five star hotel in Davos.

We need an Eiffel tower like structure to commemorate the 2012 London Olympics dreamily said the Mayor. 

Go ahead, I will pay for it, said the man with deep pockets. 
And why not - the steel for the structure came from his plants.

And thus was conceived the contraption of what later came to be known as the Orbit. Arcelor-  Mittal Orbit to be more precise. 

Among the many designs that were put forward it was Anish Kapoor's design that emerged the winner. 

London's answer to the symmetric Eiffel tower is anything but symmetric. 
It is named the orbit as it resembles the double helix structure. 
From the top of the orbit one gets to see the Olympic village in its entirety. The velodrome at the far end,  the athletics stadium and the swimming pool flank on either end. Situated in Stratford in the East end of London along the River Lee, Anish Kapoor's Arcelor Mittal Orbit is yet to attract the tourist madness that the Gustave Eiffel's strucuture manages to attract in the friendly neighboring country. 


2012 London Olympic Village
Photo shot on Nokia 520
March 2014
Stratford, London, U.K  


Maybe it is too early to tell ... 


The top level at the orbit is now open to the public for renting for parties weddings and other functions. Apparently at throw away rates offer to last until the economy picks up.



1 comment:

  1. I don't think it can compete with the Eiffel Tower. It may have to grow on me as it doesn't make me thrilled to see it in person:)

    ReplyDelete

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