First impressions count. Or do they? My first glance at the ArcelorMittal Orbit didn’t elicit a favourable response. If I remember correctly, my thought ran along the lines of WTF. It’s a monstrosity. I hadn’t been overly impressed with some of the logos and designs (more on those another day) of the London Olympics. And this was the final straw.
But some things are an acquired taste. I’m beginning to wonder if I am acquiring a taste for this giant red tower of mecchano. I’ve stopped looking at it as an icon, and started looking at it as art. It is art, Apparently. In it’s favour, it is a piece of art that doesn’t have that Henri Matisse-esque ‘I could do that’ feeling about it. It also has a slightly edgy, modern sense of Mexican design.
I do like things to be different. To be unique, even. To push boundaries. The Orbit does all that. I suspect that once the Olympic Park area as a whole is finished off, and on a sunny blue sky day, this tower is going to look a whole load more impressive. But most of all, I really, really want to get up it to that viewing platform. I’ll queue, happily. The views will be great. I hope they don’t get too greedy with the pricing though.
I’ve created a gallery of photos on Flickr that you can see by clicking here. And there’s a video of one of the creators of the Orbit below. What do you think? Collosal carbuncle? Or towering titan? Or perhaps still undecided?
