Architecture Feature - London Eye

Undoubtedly one of the best ways to witness the pretty city of London, the London Eye towers tall above the city's skyline as the biggest Ferris wheel in Europe till date. Being such an amazing piece of architecture, the London Eye definitely deserves a mention in our series on architectural marvels across the globe, and here's why:

In the year 1999, the southern bank of River Thames witnessed an architectural development which would make it one of the most visited tourist spots in London. Marking the movement from one century into another, the London Eye was originally launched as the Millennium Wheel at Riverside Building in County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London.

Photo Credit: Sean MacEntee/Flickr

London Eye towers a staggering 440 feet above the ground at its highest point. It used to be the tallest Ferris wheel in the world until the year 2006, when it was surpassed by the Singapore Flyer and the Star of Nanchang in China.

Designed by Marks Barfield Architects, the London Eye was constructed by combining separate sections of the giant wheel which were brought to the bank through the River Thames. A total of 1700 tonnes of steel and more than 3000 tonnes of concrete is said to have been used in the construction of the base structure.

Photo Crdeit: Dave Stokes/Flickr

Within the gigantic wheel, there are 32 different air-conditioned passenger capsules which are designed on the lines of the different boroughs of London. These oval-shaped capsules were brought from France to London by rail, and they also underwent a maintenance phase in the year 2009, wherein they were transported through the River Thames to Tilbury Docks for upgrading purposes. Any given capsule can carry up to 25 people at a time. A full circle in the London Eye lasts for about 30 minutes, and as it moves at a speed of less than a kilometre per hour, the passenger capsules offer blissful views of the city of London. These capsules were crafted using glass to maximize visibility on all sides and give the occupants panoramic views of the city.

Photo Credit: Lawrie Cate/Flickr

Being an important tourist attraction, the London Eye has witnessed well over 3 million visitors every year, and by the second half of 2008 it had recorded a total of 30 million visitors. Although the structure's name still remains London Eye, it is also important to know that it was rebranded multiple times to depict its ownership which included names like British Airways, Merlin Entertainments and currently, EDF Energy.

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