The British Airways i360 tower, which will open on August 4, has set two world records at once: the highest observation attraction with a moving observation platform and the thinnest capital structure (the ratio of thickness to height is 1: 8, thickness is 3.9 m). Construction lasted two years, and Brighton, a famous resort on the south coast of England, was chosen as the site for the tower. On sightseeing tours, a glazed capsule cabin will slowly lift visitors to a height of 161 m, from where a panorama of a radius of almost 42 km (26 miles) opens up - the coast and the English Channel separating England from France. The cabin can accommodate up to 200 people at a time.
It is noteworthy that the i360 appeared on the site of another attraction of the southern coast - the West Pier (1866), which at various times served as a concert hall, theater, restaurant and cafe-tea house. In the 1970s, the cast iron and steel building was abandoned, and in the spring of 2003 it was finally destroyed by fires. Then the national agency for the protection of monuments "English Heritage" (English Heritage) ruled that the restoration of the building of the Victorian era will not work: restoration will cost the treasury too expensive. However, the fund
The West Pier Trust, created in 1978 specifically to preserve the West Pier, does not lose hope of someday resurrecting it. Perhaps the futuristic "giant candy" of the observation tower, which has now appeared on the site of the historical attraction, will help with this, especially since the former ticket booths, which stood at the entrance to the pier, have now been recreated at the foot of the new building and accommodate the "West Pier Tea Room" and the ticket office …
The i360's 'walk on air' design (as opposed to the pier that invited the 19th century public to 'walk on water') was designed by David Marks and Julia Barfield, founders of Marks Barfield Architects. Apparently, the couple of architects decided to repeat the success of their other brainchild, the London Eye Ferris wheel, opened in the British capital in 2000. It was the "Eye" that brought money and world fame to the spouses. In the case of the Brighton building, the architects expect to receive income through the developer company, of which they are the main shareholders. In turn, the city's budget will be replenished by £ 1 million a year, some of which, together with voluntary donations, are planned to be spent on the revival of the West Pier. British Airways also took part in the project, which is reflected in the name of the observation tower.
Note that the cost of the project is estimated at almost £ 50 million. Tickets for visiting the new attraction are already on sale: for adults - for £ 15, and from £ 7.50 for children over four years old (those younger will be admitted free). In the daytime, the duration of the "flight" will be 20 minutes, and after six in the evening, when the capsule transforms into a bar, for half an hour.
