Introduction
The Merlin Entertainments London Eye (known more simply as The London Eye, and also known as the Millennium Wheel), at a height of 135 metres (443 ft),[1] is the largest Ferris wheel in Europe, and has become the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, visited by over three million people in one year.[2] At the time it was erected, in 1999, it was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world, until it was surpassed by the Star of Nanchang (160 m) in May 2006, and then the Singapore Flyer (165 m) on 11 February 2008. However, it is still described by its operators as "the world's tallest cantilevered observation wheel" (as the entire structure is supported by an A-frame on one side only).[3]
The London Eye is located at the western end of Jubilee Gardens, on the South Bank of the River Thames in London, England, between Westminster Bridge and Hungerford Bridge. The site is adjacent to that of the former Dome of Discovery, which was built for the Festival of Britain in 1951.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Eye
History
Since opening in March 2000 The Merlin Entertainments London Eye has become an iconic landmark and a symbol of modern Britain. The London Eye is the UK’s most popular paid for visitor attraction, visited by over 3.5 million people a year.A breathtaking feat of design and engineering, passengers in the London Eye's capsules can see up to 40 kilometres in all directions.The London Eye is the vision of David Marks and Julia Barfield, a husband and wife architect team. The wheel design was used as a metaphor for the end of the 20th century, and time turning into the new millennium. Back in 2000, the London Eye was known as the Millennium Wheel. At that time, British Airways was the main sponsor, and up until November 2005 they were joint shareholders with Marks Barfield Architects and The Tussauds Group. British Airways also privately funded the London Eye project from the early stages of conception.
Today, the London Eye is operated by the London Eye Company Limited, a Merlin Entertainments Group Company.
http://www.hotelguru.co.uk/london.html
4D Experience
The Merlin Entertainments London Eye (known more simply as The London Eye, and also known as the Millennium Wheel), at a height of 135 metres (443 ft),[1] is the largest Ferris wheel in Europe, and has become the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, visited by over three million people in one year.[2] At the time it was erected, in 1999, it was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world, until it was surpassed by the Star of Nanchang (160 m) in May 2006, and then the Singapore Flyer (165 m) on 11 February 2008. However, it is still described by its operators as "the world's tallest cantilevered observation wheel" (as the entire structure is supported by an A-frame on one side only).[3]
The London Eye is located at the western end of Jubilee Gardens, on the South Bank of the River Thames in London, England, between Westminster Bridge and Hungerford Bridge. The site is adjacent to that of the former Dome of Discovery, which was built for the Festival of Britain in 1951.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Eye
History
Since opening in March 2000 The Merlin Entertainments London Eye has become an iconic landmark and a symbol of modern Britain. The London Eye is the UK’s most popular paid for visitor attraction, visited by over 3.5 million people a year.A breathtaking feat of design and engineering, passengers in the London Eye's capsules can see up to 40 kilometres in all directions.The London Eye is the vision of David Marks and Julia Barfield, a husband and wife architect team. The wheel design was used as a metaphor for the end of the 20th century, and time turning into the new millennium. Back in 2000, the London Eye was known as the Millennium Wheel. At that time, British Airways was the main sponsor, and up until November 2005 they were joint shareholders with Marks Barfield Architects and The Tussauds Group. British Airways also privately funded the London Eye project from the early stages of conception.
Today, the London Eye is operated by the London Eye Company Limited, a Merlin Entertainments Group Company.
http://www.hotelguru.co.uk/london.html
4D Experience
The perfect prelude to a flight on The Merlin Entertainments London Eye, our new 4D Experience is a groundbreaking 3D film with spectacular in-theatre effects including wind, bubbles and mist to add a breathtaking fourth dimension.
http://www.londoneye.com/ExploreTheLondonEye/4D-Experience/Default.aspx
http://www.t3.com/news/london-eye-opens-4d-cinema-experience?=40157
http://www.londoneye.com/ExploreTheLondonEye/4D-Experience/Default.aspx
http://www.t3.com/news/london-eye-opens-4d-cinema-experience?=40157
The london eye has a new 4D cinema attraction inside the main building. As you walk into the cinema you are given a pair of glasses to put on to experience the 4D effect. Once inside you get to see a movie of london eye in a 4D view, you get the feeling of being a bird in the sky looking down to london city. During the movie bubbles and water come out at the viewers to get the feeling that they are actually were they can see in the movie.
TechRadar was treated to a sneak preview of the new exclusive-to-London 4D movie and cinema attraction this week – which in itself has cost London Eye owners Merlin Entertainments Group a cool £5 million.
A seagulls-eye view of London
If you have ever idly wondered what it might feel like to be a seagull soaring over the Thames, then wonder no more – as Merlin's incredible new four-minute 4D movie attraction will bring you about as close as your five senses will allow to imagining, seeing and actually feeling the experience.
The short movie is a beautifully produced story of a little girl visiting London with her father and is the first live action 4D attraction film ever produced in the UK, shot at Pinewood Studios and developed exclusively for the London Eye by the 3D movie experts at Centre Screen Productions.
Renowned stereo 3D producer, Phil Streather (producer of the IMAX favourite, Judi Dench-narrated Bugs! 3D) informing TechRadar that the new attraction is, in his learned opinion, "the world's greatest 4D cinema".
The movie's director and screenwriter, Julian Napier, said that he was "delighted to work on such an innovative and exciting project: bringing cutting edge cinematic techniques and technology to one of the country's and the world's most iconic landmarks".
Napier added that we are "truly at the outset of a new and exciting era for 3D film making, and the London Eye 4D experience is right up there, leading the way".
Smell-o-vision
The London Eye's new movie theatre is reminiscent of many typical 3D movie attractions that many of us will have experienced at theme parks the world over, in which up to 160 viewers stand to watch and experience the short movie.
The key difference here being that this small cinema is kitted out with all the latest 3D projection tech, alongside a bunch of cutting-edge wind and snow machines, a vibrating floor, with the experience topped off by some specially designed olfactory-tech.
That's right. It even smells!
Luckily though, for the audience, it doesn't feature the well-known, less-than-pleasant smells of London's SE1, but the smells of the fireworks that you see (and feel) firing off on the screen in front of you.
BUBBLES: Bubbles appear in the audience for that true party feeling
Access to the movie is included in the ticket price for the London Eye, where visitors can get to see the first ever 3D aerial footage of London and see, smell and hear London's famous New Year's Eve fireworks display in glorious 7.1 surround sound. It is actually better than the real thing, particularly seeing as it doesn't involve having to spend four hours crushed up against hordes of drunken tourists on a cold, wet and windy South Bank evening in late December!
Come fly with me
Merlin Entertainment's press release boasts of "more 4D sensory effects than any other visitor attraction in the UK" and TechRadar can confirm that the experience really is like no other we can remember.
Parts of the movie - with a soundtrack provided by Goldfrapp and Coldplay - were shot back in the snowstorms of February 2009 and immediately reprogrammed our previous memory of that time (struggles to get to work, broken tube trains and weather warnings) into something truly magical – the feeling of flying over the South Bank and the Thames in a soft snowstorm.
The whole experience is, according to David Sharpe, Merlin's Director of its London attractions, "A pioneering technical development… bringing a whole new perspective of London."
TechRadar loves technology. Indeed, as you'll see from our strap on our logo, we're deep into the stuff. But it isn't often that we're humbled by it, which is something that Phil Streather and his team of 3D/4D movie whizzkids at Centre Screen have achieved with the London Eye 4D Experience. Go. As soon as you can.
For more info and a very cool 'making of' video of the new London Eye 4D Experience, along with details on ticket pricing you can head over to londoneye.com
And watch out for TechRadar's follow-up interview with 3D movie producer, Phil Streather in the near future, when we should find out a lot more about the future of 3D/4D cinema from one of its leading visionaries.
Timeline
August 2009
The London Eye launches a spectacular new 4D Experience.The London Eye goes through a re-branding.
May 2009
the London Eye launches its upgrade programme with removal of the first capsuleLondon.
June 2008
We made history with the 30 million flights on the London Eye..
May 2008
The London Eye River cruise celebrated its millionth guest.
March 2007
The 25 millionth visitor was welcomed to the London Eye
March 2007
The London Eye became part of the Merlin Entertainment’s Group, the world’s number two visitor attraction operator.
February 2006
The London Eye was finally granted a 25 year lease agreement
December 2005
The first civil partnership was performed on the London Eye. To mark the occasion, the London Eye was turned pink.
March 2005
The London Eye had its fifth birthday - 7,000 quarter bottles of Laurent-Perrier Champagne and 3,000 bottles of orange juice were given away so customers could join in the party .
February 2004
The London Eye kept turning until midnight for the first time to give lovers a romantic moment on St. Valentine’s Day.
September 2002
Our 10 millionth flight took place.
August 2002
The London Eye River Cruise was launched, quickly becoming a favourite way to see London from the River Thames.
February 2002
A new idea for Valentines Day and lovers - wedding packages allowing people to get married on the London Eye were introduced .
January 2002
The Euro was accepted at the London Eye
March 2001
The London Eye celebrated its first official birthday. During the first year alone, more than 3.5 million people came on board to fly above London.
March 2000
The London Eye officially opened to the public
October 1999
The London Eye was raised over the River Thames
Late 1998
Construction started on The London Eye, a huge international effort involving hundreds of people.
TechRadar was treated to a sneak preview of the new exclusive-to-London 4D movie and cinema attraction this week – which in itself has cost London Eye owners Merlin Entertainments Group a cool £5 million.
A seagulls-eye view of London
If you have ever idly wondered what it might feel like to be a seagull soaring over the Thames, then wonder no more – as Merlin's incredible new four-minute 4D movie attraction will bring you about as close as your five senses will allow to imagining, seeing and actually feeling the experience.
The short movie is a beautifully produced story of a little girl visiting London with her father and is the first live action 4D attraction film ever produced in the UK, shot at Pinewood Studios and developed exclusively for the London Eye by the 3D movie experts at Centre Screen Productions.
Renowned stereo 3D producer, Phil Streather (producer of the IMAX favourite, Judi Dench-narrated Bugs! 3D) informing TechRadar that the new attraction is, in his learned opinion, "the world's greatest 4D cinema".
The movie's director and screenwriter, Julian Napier, said that he was "delighted to work on such an innovative and exciting project: bringing cutting edge cinematic techniques and technology to one of the country's and the world's most iconic landmarks".
Napier added that we are "truly at the outset of a new and exciting era for 3D film making, and the London Eye 4D experience is right up there, leading the way".
Smell-o-vision
The London Eye's new movie theatre is reminiscent of many typical 3D movie attractions that many of us will have experienced at theme parks the world over, in which up to 160 viewers stand to watch and experience the short movie.
The key difference here being that this small cinema is kitted out with all the latest 3D projection tech, alongside a bunch of cutting-edge wind and snow machines, a vibrating floor, with the experience topped off by some specially designed olfactory-tech.
That's right. It even smells!
Luckily though, for the audience, it doesn't feature the well-known, less-than-pleasant smells of London's SE1, but the smells of the fireworks that you see (and feel) firing off on the screen in front of you.
BUBBLES: Bubbles appear in the audience for that true party feeling
Access to the movie is included in the ticket price for the London Eye, where visitors can get to see the first ever 3D aerial footage of London and see, smell and hear London's famous New Year's Eve fireworks display in glorious 7.1 surround sound. It is actually better than the real thing, particularly seeing as it doesn't involve having to spend four hours crushed up against hordes of drunken tourists on a cold, wet and windy South Bank evening in late December!
Come fly with me
Merlin Entertainment's press release boasts of "more 4D sensory effects than any other visitor attraction in the UK" and TechRadar can confirm that the experience really is like no other we can remember.
Parts of the movie - with a soundtrack provided by Goldfrapp and Coldplay - were shot back in the snowstorms of February 2009 and immediately reprogrammed our previous memory of that time (struggles to get to work, broken tube trains and weather warnings) into something truly magical – the feeling of flying over the South Bank and the Thames in a soft snowstorm.
The whole experience is, according to David Sharpe, Merlin's Director of its London attractions, "A pioneering technical development… bringing a whole new perspective of London."
TechRadar loves technology. Indeed, as you'll see from our strap on our logo, we're deep into the stuff. But it isn't often that we're humbled by it, which is something that Phil Streather and his team of 3D/4D movie whizzkids at Centre Screen have achieved with the London Eye 4D Experience. Go. As soon as you can.
For more info and a very cool 'making of' video of the new London Eye 4D Experience, along with details on ticket pricing you can head over to londoneye.com
And watch out for TechRadar's follow-up interview with 3D movie producer, Phil Streather in the near future, when we should find out a lot more about the future of 3D/4D cinema from one of its leading visionaries.
Timeline
August 2009
The London Eye launches a spectacular new 4D Experience.The London Eye goes through a re-branding.
May 2009
the London Eye launches its upgrade programme with removal of the first capsuleLondon.
June 2008
We made history with the 30 million flights on the London Eye..
May 2008
The London Eye River cruise celebrated its millionth guest.
March 2007
The 25 millionth visitor was welcomed to the London Eye
March 2007
The London Eye became part of the Merlin Entertainment’s Group, the world’s number two visitor attraction operator.
February 2006
The London Eye was finally granted a 25 year lease agreement
December 2005
The first civil partnership was performed on the London Eye. To mark the occasion, the London Eye was turned pink.
March 2005
The London Eye had its fifth birthday - 7,000 quarter bottles of Laurent-Perrier Champagne and 3,000 bottles of orange juice were given away so customers could join in the party .
February 2004
The London Eye kept turning until midnight for the first time to give lovers a romantic moment on St. Valentine’s Day.
September 2002
Our 10 millionth flight took place.
August 2002
The London Eye River Cruise was launched, quickly becoming a favourite way to see London from the River Thames.
February 2002
A new idea for Valentines Day and lovers - wedding packages allowing people to get married on the London Eye were introduced .
January 2002
The Euro was accepted at the London Eye
March 2001
The London Eye celebrated its first official birthday. During the first year alone, more than 3.5 million people came on board to fly above London.
March 2000
The London Eye officially opened to the public
October 1999
The London Eye was raised over the River Thames
Late 1998
Construction started on The London Eye, a huge international effort involving hundreds of people.
Making
Constructing The Merlin Entertainments London Eye was a massive challenge. It’s the tallest cantilevered observation wheel in the world, rising high above the London skyline at 135 metres. It was a piece of daring innovation and revolutionary design which combined the best of British design, architecture and engineering with an exceptional team of experts.
The London Eye passenger capsules incorporate an entirely new design form for an observation wheel. Instead of being suspended under the wheel they turn within circular mounting rings fixed to the outside of the main rim. The result is a stunning 360 degree panoramic view from the top of the wheel.The London eye has 32 capsules, representing the 32 boroughs of London. Capsules have 360 degree views, a heating and cooling system and bench seating.
Any visitor to the London Eye can’t help but be amazed by the incredible six backstay cables holding the wheel in place. And then, when you look up you see the wheel cables stretching across the rim and the wheel. The wheel cables include 16 rim rotation cables, and 64 spoke cables, which are similar to bicycle spokes, holding the rim tight to the central spindle.
The main foundation for the London Eye is situated underneath the A-frame legs; it required 2,200 tonnes of concrete and 44 concrete piles - each of which is 33 metres deep. The second foundation, the tension foundation holding the backstay cables behind the wheel, used 1,200 tonnes of concrete.
At the centre of the London Eye is the vast hub and spindle. The main elements were manufactured in cast steel. The spindle itself was too large to cast as a single piece so instead was produced in eight smaller sections. Two further castings, in the form of great rings form the main structural element of the hub. The hub is a rolled steel tube forming the spacer that holds them apart. All the casting was carried out by Skoda Steel. When the architects at Marks Barfield sat down to consider what structure would best commemorate the turning of the century, they noted that London didn't have any observation points for people view the skyline and surrounding landscape. A tall, rotating wheel would not only allow a unique vantage point of the city, but would allow large numbers of people to see that view at the same time.
The London Eye is a modern take on a traditional Ferris wheel with a few distinct differences. For one, the passengers sit in fully enclosed capsules rather than dangling gondolas. Two, the entire structure of the London Eye is supported on one side only, allowing the wheel to hang over the River Thames.
The London Eye is an excellent example of a frame structure. Its steel design forms an "A" shape, with two large tapered legs at the base -- 65 feet (20 meters) apart and each over 190 feet (58 meters) in length. The legs lean toward the river at a 65-degree angle. Cable backstays keep the frame from tilting into the river -- they're anchored to the top of the frame and then buried in a concrete foundation 108 feet (33 meters) deep.
The wheel part of the London Eye resembles a bicycle wheel -- with a spindle and hub connected to the rim by 64 cables, or spokes. Sixteen additional rotation cables are attached to the hub at an opposing angle to ensure there's no lag between the turning of the rim and the turning of the hub. The spindle itself is supported by the frame on one side only (cantilevered), and the frame holds the wheel over the river. The London Eye can withstand winds of a 50-year storm, the worst storm anticipated to occur once in a period of 50 years, and if it's ever struck by lightning, the strike would be conducted to the ground with no harm to passengers.
The London Eye rotates around the hub much like a bicycle wheel, but motorized. Hydraulic motors, driven by electric pumps, provide energy to turn the wheel. The drive systems are located in two towers, one at each end of the wheel's boarding platform. Here's how the wheel turns: Standard truck tires along the rim of the wheel act as friction rollers. Hydraulic motors turn the tires, and the rotation of the tires turns the wheel. A computer controls the hydraulic motor speed for each tire.
The main components of the London Eye were built offsite. Once they were completed, barges transported them piece by piece up the River Thames to the construction site on the South Bank. Workers assembled the London Eye horizontally on a temporary support platform over the river, which made construction faster, easier and safer than if it had been built vertically. Once it was assembled, hydraulic lifts and cables slowly raised the 1,322 ton (1,200 tonnes) structure over the course of one day, until it reached its 65-degree angle. Once it was in final position, the 32 capsules were attached to the rim, which took eight days.
Instead of being suspended and swinging, the passenger capsules turn within circular mounting rings fixed to the outside of the main rim. As the wheel rotates, the capsules also rotate within their mounting rings to remain horizontal. If the capsules didn't rotate, by the time your capsule went around the wheel, you and your friends would be upside down. Each capsule has its own heating and cooling system, bench seating and is fitted with special glass that can handle weather fluctuations. Capsules also have a built-in stability system, meaning the capsule will stay level even if all the passengers suddenly move to one side. There are 32 capsules, one to represent each borough of London.
Singapore Flyer
The Singapore Flyer was first conceived by Patrick MacMahon of Melchers Project Management (MPM), a subsidiary of German company Melchers, in the early 2000s. Formal planning commenced in 2002, MPM and Orient & Pacific Management (O&P) formed a new company, Singapore Flyer Pte Ltd (SFPL), as the developer with MPM holding a 75% stake and the rest by O&P. The project was formally announced and endorsed by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on 27 June 2003, formalising the understanding between the developer and STB with regard to the land-acquisition process. As stipulated in the MOU, the STB will purchase the plot of land in Marina Centre from the Singapore Land Authority, and lease it to Singapore Flyer Pte Ltd for 30 years with an option to extend the lease by another 15 years. In addition, the land will be rent-free during the construction phase of the project. In July 2003, Jones Lang LaSalle was appointed as the real estate advisor. Takenaka and Mitsubishi were selected as the main contractors, and Arup as the structural engineer.
Early designs showed a 169 m (554 ft) high wheel similar to the London Eye, drawing criticisms that it lacked originality. The developers pointed out that the design wasn't finalised and was merely for conceptualisation purposes though the final project changed little from the early designs. The project was to grind almost to a halt subsequently when the developers faced difficulties in sourcing for funds to build the wheel. Original plans to complete the wheel by the end of 2005 were thus postponed indefinitely, and there were reports (but denied by the STB) that the tourism board has set an ultimatum date on 31 March 2005 for the developer to iron out its financial issues and to keep the development going.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_Flyer
