ArcelorMittal Orbit

Do you know that the ArcelorMittal Orbit is the largest piece of public art in Britain? Right in front of you is a 114.5-metre tall sculpture that is supposed to be a lasting legacy of London’s hosting of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It was a contentious project from the start. The project was expected to cost £19.1 million, with £16 million coming from Lakshmi Mittal, Chairman of the ArcelorMittal steel company and the balance of £3.1 million coming from the London Development Agency. The media did not shy away from labeling it a vanity project by the then Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, as a way to make a statement for the 2012 Olympic Games. The ArcelorMittal Orbit is a fascinating combination of art and engineering. It was designed by Turner Prize-winning artist Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond of Arup Group, an engineering firm. It is a combination of stability and instability in a work that visitors can engage with and experience via an incorporated spiral walkway. There are two observation platforms. At the top, the views are quite panoramic and you can see the whole Olympic Park. There is a cafe, shop and other facilities at the South Park Hub building that opened in April 2014. The ArcelorMittal Orbit temporarily closed after the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games while the South Plaza underwent reconstruction. Since 2016, the ArcelorMittal Orbit has been home to the world’s tallest and longest tunnel slide at 178 metres, designed by Carsten Höller. This makes it a bit more than a simple observation tower, but one that is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who takes the time to visit.