Comments on: Is the Millennium London Eye a Good Thing or a Bad Thing? http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/2009/11/10/is-the-millennium-london-eye-a-good-thing-or-a-bad-thing/ News and debate from Gardenvisit.com Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:15:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Christine http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/2009/11/10/is-the-millennium-london-eye-a-good-thing-or-a-bad-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-2773 Christine Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:47:02 +0000 http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/?p=3092#comment-2773 Landscape Character and Scenic Quality are very interesting terms. Beginning with Landscape character would Tom agree with the division into natural and agricultural landscapes? Natural Landscapes. Australian Landscape [ http://www.ursispaltenstein.ch/blog/weblog.php?/weblog/2006/10/18/ ] Canadian Landscape [ http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2090198070031754851mxUXcw ] Agricultural Landscapes. British Landscape [ http://www.allaboutyou.com/country/how-farmers-shape-countryside/v1 ] French Landscape [ http://www.frenchgardening.com/aujardin.html?pid=1213276841541215 ] Greek Landscape [ http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarako/2288707676/ ] Indian Landscape [ http://www.flickr.com/photos/sonrisa/190096077/ ] Landscape Character and Scenic Quality are very interesting terms.

Beginning with Landscape character would Tom agree with the division into natural and agricultural landscapes?

Natural Landscapes.

Australian Landscape [ http://www.ursispaltenstein.ch/blog/weblog.php?/weblog/2006/10/18/ ]
Canadian Landscape [ http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2090198070031754851mxUXcw ]

Agricultural Landscapes.

British Landscape [ http://www.allaboutyou.com/country/how-farmers-shape-countryside/v1 ]
French Landscape [ http://www.frenchgardening.com/aujardin.html?pid=1213276841541215 ]
Greek Landscape [ http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarako/2288707676/ ]
Indian Landscape [ http://www.flickr.com/photos/sonrisa/190096077/ ]

]]> By: Tom Turner http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/2009/11/10/is-the-millennium-london-eye-a-good-thing-or-a-bad-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-2766 Tom Turner Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:25:11 +0000 http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/?p=3092#comment-2766 Yes to quirkyness and unpredictability - not so sure about kookiness. But my general view is to produce a Scenic Quality Assessment, after doing a Landscape Character Assessment, and then make a presumption in favour of conserving the areas of highest quality and improving the areas of lowest quality. So the Westminster Riverside would be a scenic conservation area. See http://www.gardenvisit.com/book/landscape_planning_and_environmental_impact_design:_from_eia_to_eid/chapter_7_agriculture_farming_and_countryside_policy/scenic_conservation_and_enhancement Yes to quirkyness and unpredictability – not so sure about kookiness. But my general view is to produce a Scenic Quality Assessment, after doing a Landscape Character Assessment, and then make a presumption in favour of conserving the areas of highest quality and improving the areas of lowest quality. So the Westminster Riverside would be a scenic conservation area. See http://www.gardenvisit.com/book/landscape_planning_and_environmental_impact_design:_from_eia_to_eid/chapter_7_agriculture_farming_and_countryside_policy/scenic_conservation_and_enhancement

]]> By: Alison http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/2009/11/10/is-the-millennium-london-eye-a-good-thing-or-a-bad-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-2765 Alison Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:06:44 +0000 http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/?p=3092#comment-2765 I am drawn to the tension between 'kookiness' and strategy - ask the average person in the street and they will bristle against a planned landscape because the results are so often sterile. So our job then is to formulate landscape strategy that brings clarity and control over the bigger picture whilst postively encouraging the wearing of kooky pants. As to the London eye itself - the current position makes for a great package with the South Bank, the new bridges and even makes the charing cross building seem like less of a mistake. I feel it ties the modern elements together and gives London a vital modern face. It could have looked great in other places along the thames too, but it brings the biggest postive impact where it is. Perhaps we need more (but different)?! Finally, the owners should now be charged 10m/year for the land. I am drawn to the tension between ‘kookiness’ and strategy – ask the average person in the street and they will bristle against a planned landscape because the results are so often sterile. So our job then is to formulate landscape strategy that brings clarity and control over the bigger picture whilst postively encouraging the wearing of kooky pants.

As to the London eye itself – the current position makes for a great package with the South Bank, the new bridges and even makes the charing cross building seem like less of a mistake. I feel it ties the modern elements together and gives London a vital modern face. It could have looked great in other places along the thames too, but it brings the biggest postive impact where it is. Perhaps we need more (but different)?!

Finally, the owners should now be charged 10m/year for the land.

]]> By: Tom Turner http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/2009/11/10/is-the-millennium-london-eye-a-good-thing-or-a-bad-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-2763 Tom Turner Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:59:14 +0000 http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/?p=3092#comment-2763 Good point. W G Hoskins, in The Making of the English Landscape, wrote about 'the marvelous unexpectedness of the English countryside' and it applies to London too. Good point. W G Hoskins, in The Making of the English Landscape, wrote about ‘the marvelous unexpectedness of the English countryside’ and it applies to London too.

]]> By: Daniel Sheedy http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/2009/11/10/is-the-millennium-london-eye-a-good-thing-or-a-bad-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-2762 Daniel Sheedy Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:57:57 +0000 http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/?p=3092#comment-2762 'Are you suggesting that this is the BEST POSSIBLE location for the London Eye and that there would have been no point in consulting landscape architects about its siting?' Actually I agree with you. Somewhere east of London Bridge would have been more appropriate considering all the arguments and I'm quite certain most landscape architects would have been opposed to the siting of the eye at its present location (on a permanent basis) had they been consulted. But actually what I love about London is its unpredictability. It has a kookiness about it that Paris doesn't have and its all the richer for it. Every now and then somebody does something daft like site a ferris wheel in front of the most famous parliamentary building in the world and it works(sort of). Its a happy accident and dissenting voices are rare so let it be! ‘Are you suggesting that this is the BEST POSSIBLE location for the London Eye and that there would have been no point in consulting landscape architects about its siting?’

Actually I agree with you. Somewhere east of London Bridge would have been more appropriate considering all the arguments and I’m quite certain most landscape architects would have been opposed to the siting of the eye at its present location (on a permanent basis) had they been consulted. But actually what I love about London is its unpredictability. It has a kookiness about it that Paris doesn’t have and its all the richer for it. Every now and then somebody does something daft like site a ferris wheel in front of the most famous parliamentary building in the world and it works(sort of). Its a happy accident and dissenting voices are rare so let it be!

]]> By: Tom Turner http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/2009/11/10/is-the-millennium-london-eye-a-good-thing-or-a-bad-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-2761 Tom Turner Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:02:49 +0000 http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/?p=3092#comment-2761 Too sadly right about the Westminster Parliamentary Circus. But we should not encourage them! Their job is, or should be, to take serious decisions on serious matters in accordance with the wishes and interests of the people. Are you suggesting that this is the BEST POSSIBLE location for the London Eye and that there would have been no point in consulting landscape architects about its siting? Too sadly right about the Westminster Parliamentary Circus. But we should not encourage them! Their job is, or should be, to take serious decisions on serious matters in accordance with the wishes and interests of the people.
Are you suggesting that this is the BEST POSSIBLE location for the London Eye and that there would have been no point in consulting landscape architects about its siting?

]]> By: Daniel Sheedy http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/2009/11/10/is-the-millennium-london-eye-a-good-thing-or-a-bad-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-2759 Daniel Sheedy Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:42:35 +0000 http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/?p=3092#comment-2759 I wonder if its not a generational thing. Will the next generation associate the eye with carnival ferris wheels or carnival ferris wheels with the london eye? If we didn't associate ferris wheels with carnivals we would see them differently not as follies but as the beautiful striking things that they are. I agree with Lord Rogers on this, the Eiffel Tower came in for alot of stick at the time of its construction as well...and why so precious about the houses of parliament? Surely Westminster is a circus by any reasonable definition! I wonder if its not a generational thing. Will the next generation associate the eye with carnival ferris wheels or carnival ferris wheels with the london eye? If we didn’t associate ferris wheels with carnivals we would see them differently not as follies but as the beautiful striking things that they are. I agree with Lord Rogers on this, the Eiffel Tower came in for alot of stick at the time of its construction as well…and why so precious about the houses of parliament? Surely Westminster is a circus by any reasonable definition!

]]> By: Tom Turner http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/2009/11/10/is-the-millennium-london-eye-a-good-thing-or-a-bad-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-2758 Tom Turner Sat, 14 Nov 2009 07:14:18 +0000 http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/?p=3092#comment-2758 A great set of images thank you! One of the things I admire about the London Eye is the way the architects, David Marks and Julia Barfield, initiated the project themselves. Waiting for clients to come up with good ideas is a mugs game. Far better for designers to have the ideas and then seek clients to implement them. So if any designers reading this post would like publicity for a good design with a good impact on the landscape: LET US KNOW. A great set of images thank you!
One of the things I admire about the London Eye is the way the architects, David Marks and Julia Barfield, initiated the project themselves. Waiting for clients to come up with good ideas is a mugs game. Far better for designers to have the ideas and then seek clients to implement them. So if any designers reading this post would like publicity for a good design with a good impact on the landscape: LET US KNOW.

]]> By: Christine http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/2009/11/10/is-the-millennium-london-eye-a-good-thing-or-a-bad-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-2757 Christine Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:56:13 +0000 http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/?p=3092#comment-2757 Perhaps this is the iconic photograph? [ http://www.tourist-information-uk.com/london-eye.htm ] It is worth considering that the best thing about the London Eye might not be what it is like to look at, or how it interacts with its context but what it is like to look from. [ http://interwalk.com/2006/11/26/london-eye/ ]. This perspective is just a little different from the Ferris Wheel. [ http://www.confetti.co.uk/venues/template.asp?venueId=3328 ]and[ http://www.autospectator.com/cars/topics/london ] It has become not just a viewing platform but a place...[ http://www.yogawarrior.co.za/Events/CarpeDiem06/LondonSeries/tabid/2166/Default.aspx ]with endless different uses! [ http://www.londonrestaurantfestivalblog.com/page/2/ ] Seen from this perspective the Eye ties together disparate historic and contemporary elements in its context. [ http://www.autospectator.com/cars/topics/london ] Perhaps this is the iconic photograph? [ http://www.tourist-information-uk.com/london-eye.htm ]

It is worth considering that the best thing about the London Eye might not be what it is like to look at, or how it interacts with its context but what it is like to look from.
[ http://interwalk.com/2006/11/26/london-eye/ ].

This perspective is just a little different from the Ferris Wheel. [ http://www.confetti.co.uk/venues/template.asp?venueId=3328 ]and[ http://www.autospectator.com/cars/topics/london ]
It has become not just a viewing platform but a place…[ http://www.yogawarrior.co.za/Events/CarpeDiem06/LondonSeries/tabid/2166/Default.aspx ]with endless different uses!
[ http://www.londonrestaurantfestivalblog.com/page/2/ ]

Seen from this perspective the Eye ties together disparate historic and contemporary elements in its context.
[ http://www.autospectator.com/cars/topics/london ]

]]> By: Magda http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/2009/11/10/is-the-millennium-london-eye-a-good-thing-or-a-bad-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-2755 Magda Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:16:15 +0000 http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/?p=3092#comment-2755 London Eye is one of the most elegant, beautiful objects in London. It adds quality to the surrounding area, as well as to the London skyline. I do not think it makes it look like a theme park at all, and rather the opposite - gives a good modern addition to balance historic buildings around. Great brave idea, good location - in commercial and aesthetics terms. It does not have any negative visual influence on the surrounding urban landscape - I love the view from St.James Park with the London Eye. I do not see the point in moving it downstream - then exactly it would be pushed into the theme park category! London Eye is one of the most elegant, beautiful objects in London. It adds quality to the surrounding area, as well as to the London skyline. I do not think it makes it look like a theme park at all, and rather the opposite – gives a good modern addition to balance historic buildings around.
Great brave idea, good location – in commercial and aesthetics terms. It does not have any negative visual influence on the surrounding urban landscape – I love the view from St.James Park with the London Eye. I do not see the point in moving it downstream – then exactly it would be pushed into the theme park category!

]]>