London Olympics 2012: Anish Kapoor's ArcelorMittal Orbit Officially Opened In Stratford

Posted: 11/05/2012 08:52 Updated: 11/05/2012 09:34

The tangled, red metal tower that has come to dominate the skyline around the Olympic site was finally unveiled on Friday.

Called the ArcelorMittal Orbit, the 114m monument is the brainchild of Turner Prize-winning artist Anish Kapoor, who created the striking, looping plinth alongside structural designer Cecil Balmond.

The tallest sculpture in the UK, the Orbit will open to the public in late July, allowing up to 5,000 visitors a day to climb the 455 steps, with the summit boasting stunning views of the Olympic Park, with Canary Wharf and the The Shard in the distance.

orbit
The ArcelorMittal Orbit was officially unveiled on Friday

The design was finally completed in October last year. Of London's latest landmark, mayor Boris Johnson said: "it would have boggled the minds of the Romans" and "dwarfed the aspirations of Gustave Eiffel”.

However, not all are convinced with some critics dubbing the structure "The Eyeful Tower".

Funding for the enormous project came from steel company ArcelorMittal, who paid more than £19m towards the cost. The remaining £3m came from the London Development Agency.

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The tangled, red metal tower that has come to dominate the skyline around the Olympic site was finally unveiled on Friday. Called the ArcelorMittal Orbit, the 114m monument is the brainchild of T...
The tangled, red metal tower that has come to dominate the skyline around the Olympic site was finally unveiled on Friday. Called the ArcelorMittal Orbit, the 114m monument is the brainchild of T...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
ringmaster
I know I spelled it wrong.
06:45 PM on 05/14/2012
http://www.flatrides.com/Ride%20Index%20Pages/toboggan.html
09:16 PM on 05/11/2012
Tangled mess was my vote but what does it matter while the real outcome has been achieved, that is that another totally talentless individual can now drive around the west end in his yearly quota of Mercedes saloons, have a nice holiday retreat built in Goa and relocate his permanent residence to one of the more affluent areas of the capital, Local boy makes good, just not good as far as artwork goes.
07:27 PM on 05/11/2012
Well I'm just glad we paid a local Guy to design it,!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Edward Lucie-Smith
Art historian, photographer, poet
07:16 PM on 05/11/2012
Long, long queues if it becomes at all popular. Is 5000 visitors a day, up 455 twisting steps, really an achievable target? What happens if just one visitor has a heart attack, or simply takes a bad tumble?

The Heathrow immigration experience, this time with more than one twist.
03:44 PM on 05/11/2012
When most of us living outside of London wont be able to afford tickets or the cost of travel to see the games it beggars belief how much money is being spent on this Seb Coe vanity project.
03:41 PM on 05/11/2012
I can think of better things to spend the money on considering the economic circumstances in this country.
02:15 PM on 05/11/2012
novelty...
01:33 PM on 05/11/2012
Looks like a crane shagging a rollercoaster
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vividrick
I came, I saw...I had a cup of tea!
11:34 AM on 05/11/2012
He's a good artist, not sure I rate this as one of his best.
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10:42 AM on 05/11/2012
Speaks volumes for the Olympics a load of over priced unoriginal junk, and bland 3rd rate bad copy of of Vladamir Tatlin's monument to the 3rd International from 1919-20, since been copied to death by every unoriginal ideas merchant out. At the Same time the UK blocks Pirate Bay it puts up Bootleg monuments like this. Sorry Seb but your wrong this is proof that "Britain Does Bland".
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vividrick
I came, I saw...I had a cup of tea!
11:36 AM on 05/11/2012
Yes. If the Olympics become a flop, for whatever reason, this would become an instant eye-sore.
12:35 PM on 05/11/2012
Yes, Tatlin would be turning in his grave if he knew that his work provided the inspiration for this insipid helter skelter..... on the other hand Stalin would be quite pleased that State sponsored artists elbow everyone else out of the way and that Britain of all places mimics the great sporting achievements of East Germany and the Soviet Union....we all know what happened there....now watch this space....
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Laatab
All The Worlds A Stage
10:31 AM on 05/11/2012
I wonder how much it will cost to remove it? It beggars belief that such an amount of money can be spent on things like this while we are told we have to work till we drop because we live too long. This company spends tens of millions on what can only be described as corporate indulgence whilst no doubt enjoying tax saving and an underpaid workforce.
10:15 AM on 05/11/2012
Staggered at the cost but I think it looks fabulous
10:11 AM on 05/11/2012
The selection of THIS as representative of Britishness along with the SECRECY of the ticket selection process has marred the entire Olympics. People will come to London and be met with long lines of frustrated and angry tourists, concrete, dilapidated buildings and overpriced tat. It would NOT have been too much to ask for the ticketing process to be OPEN, FIRST COME FIRST SERVED and HONEST..but above all, OPEN. EVERYTHING from the selection of the hideous Bart & Lisa Simpson Logo to the strange and cryptic mascot (what's WRONG with beefeaters or bulldogs?) to this twisted monstrosity to syncopated 12 tonal anarchismic art and koyaanisqatsi just makes me angry enough to blow steam. WHO IS IN CHARGE and WHO CAN WE BLAME!?
03:43 PM on 05/11/2012
My 10 year old cousin could have done a better design.
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hearthammer
If left is right and right is wrong, decide!
10:09 AM on 05/11/2012
Lie everything else in this London vanity project, it's overrated and overpriced.