Orbit (sculpture)

Orbit (sculpture), officially known as the ArcelorMittal Orbit, is a major public artwork and observation tower located in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. Designed by artist Anish Kapoor and engineer Cecil Balmond, it was constructed as a permanent legacy of the 2012 Summer Olympics. The structure combines a looping, lattice-like form with a spiraling observation deck, offering panoramic views of the London skyline.

Description

The sculpture is a complex, twisting form of tubular red steel that appears to be in a state of continuous, unstable motion. Its design incorporates a continuous loop that rises from the base, coils upon itself, and culminates in a viewing platform. Visitors can ascend via a high-speed lift to two main levels: an enclosed, glazed observation deck and an open-air platform higher up, which provides unobstructed vistas of landmarks like the Olympic Stadium and The Shard. The exterior is painted a distinctive, deep red, a color specifically developed for the project and known as "Kapoor Red," which references the artist's earlier work like Cloud Gate in Chicago.

History and construction

Commissioned by then-Mayor of London Boris Johnson and funded primarily by steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal through his company ArcelorMittal, the project was announced in 2010. The design by Kapoor and Balmond, of the firm Arup Group, was selected from a shortlist of proposals aiming to create an iconic landmark for the Olympic Park. Fabrication of the 2,000 tonnes of steel began in Port Talbot, Wales, with sections transported to London for assembly. Construction was managed by the firm Skaters and completed in time for the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, though it opened to the public later that year. Its original purpose was to provide a lasting visitor attraction for the post-Games park, overseen by the London Legacy Development Corporation.

Critical reception

Initial critical response was sharply divided, with some praising its ambition and others deriding its aesthetics. Architecture critic Jonathan Glancey compared it favorably to historic structures like the Eiffel Tower, while Brian Sewell of the *Evening Standard* offered a famously scathing review. Public opinion also varied, with nicknames like "The Hubble Bubble" and "The Stomach Churner" circulating in the British press. Over time, some assessments have softened, with recognition of its role in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park skyline and its success as a tourist draw. It has been discussed in contexts ranging from The Guardian to the BBC documentary series *The Culture Show*.

Structural details

The tower stands 114.5 meters tall, making it the United Kingdom's largest piece of public art. Its structural system is a hybrid, employing a lattice tripod base for stability that supports the dynamic, looping form above. The primary material is ArcelorMittal's tubular steel, with over 35 kilometers of it used in the winding lattice. The foundation consists of a substantial reinforced concrete pile cap. A key engineering challenge was managing the structure's dynamic response to wind load, addressed through precise aerodynamic modeling by Arup Group. The internal core houses a twin-car lift and a 455-step helical staircase, designed to comply with stringent Building regulations in the United Kingdom.

Cultural impact

The sculpture has become a recognizable, if debated, part of the London landscape and a focal point for the regenerated Stratford area. It has hosted events like ABBA Voyage launch parties and has been featured in numerous media productions, including films and television series. In 2016, a Carsten Höller-designed tunnel slide, the world's tallest and longest, was added to the structure, rebranding it as the "ArcelorMittal Orbit: The Slide," significantly increasing visitor numbers. It functions as a major tourist attraction, managed by the London Legacy Development Corporation, and is often cited in debates about public art, Olympic legacy, and urban regeneration in East London.

Category:Sculptures in London Category:2012 sculptures Category:Buildings and structures in the London Borough of Newham Category:Anish Kapoor