A British architectural firm, Bblur Architecture, has won planning approval to construct a giant slide around the ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.
Known to be United Kingdom’s tallest sculpture, ArcelorMittal Orbit was designed by the noted British-Indian sculptor, Anish Kapoor. Building plans include a 178-metre-long, 76-metre-high slide that will connect the platforms of the structure and move down to the ground level.
The slide will loop around the 114.5-metre-high sculpture and observation tower. The enclosed steel tube of the slide will wind its way in and out of the sculpture’s lattice work and twist along to the ground.
Expected to be used as an alternative to the staircase, the slide will provide a fast route down from the viewing platforms, thrilling visitors with a 40-second descent at a speed of 15 miles per hour. The refurbished tower is scheduled to be operational by early next year.
This development is said to be a part of London Legacy Development Corporation’s effort towards evolving and developing the ArcelorMittal Orbit. According to Peter Tudor, director of visitor services, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, this slide will give a different perspective to Britain’s tallest sculpture.
The ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture was fashioned from 2,000 tonnes of steel, more than 60 per cent of which was recycled from old cars, washing machines and steel building materials.