As the world's major cities battle to build the biggest Ferris wheel, both Harry Crosbie and the Dublin Docklands Authority have announced plans for their own 'Dublin Eye' along the Liffey, writes FIONA McCANN.
WORD OF WARNING to those battling it out for Dublin’s first Ferris wheel: it’s all fun and games until someone loses an Eye. A Dublin Eye, to be specific, which is what developer Harry Crosbie has in mind. This week, he announced plans to build a €10 million giant wheel beside the O2 arena in the Point Village. Then it emerged that the Dublin Docklands Development Authority was still assessing tenders for its own big wheel, to be located either in George’s Dock or Custom House Quay, with a decision on the matter expected next month.
Whatever the wheel, those hoping to build one in the city are required to lodge a planning application with Dublin City Council. A spokesperson for the Council confirmed that, to date, no such application has been received, so it appears the Eye for our Cyclopsian capital is still up for grabs.
So, what’s the big deal about big wheels, given that Ferris wheels have been gracing carnivals and fairs around the country for generations? The answer is scale: the kind of giant structures under consideration for Dublin would make Funderland’s star attraction look positively Lilliputian. And though Ferris wheels have been around since the late 19th century, the more recent iterations are hitting headlines for their height, scale and the views – and thrills – afforded to those brave enough to take a turn.
Take the London Eye, which was the largest big wheel in the world when it opened to great fanfare in 2000. Known to its operators as an observation wheel – it offers spectacular views of the city, with its own website boasting that visitors can see around 40 km from the top of this colossus – the London Eye was built as the English answer to the Eiffel tower and was swiftly granted city landmark status.
But it’s more than just a postcard image: since it was opened nine years ago, the 135m wheel has attracted over 3.5 million visitors a year, and clocked up visitor number 30 million last year. Factor in that the adult price to ride – or fly, as its operators prefer – the London Eye currently stands at £17 (€20), and you can see why the wheel was reinvented.
Yet though the London Eye had several glorious years as the biggest of its kind, the Chinese stepped in in 2006 with their 160m equivalent, the Star of Nanchang, only to be outdone last year when the 165m high Singapore Flyer opened for business. Other, bigger wheels are also in the pipeline for Beijing and Dubai, and as the international one-upmanship continues unabated, the sky is – quite literally – the limit.
Everyone, it seems, has a wheel these days, with revolving observation capsules seen on several city skylines, including Manchester, Brisbane, Copenhagen and Perth. Many of these are operated by World Tourist Attractions, the company cited by Crosbie as the partner in his joint venture.
It’s the same company behind the Wheel of Belfast, which opened beside Belfast City Hall in November 2007. Though originally only given planning permission until February 2008, the Wheel has had its stay extended, with plans for it to continue in operation until the end of 2011 and possibly beyond.
So how has the city taken to the wheel? “It’s been very positive for Belfast,” says Gerry Copeland, Events Manager at Belfast City Council. “People are now using it as an iconic image for the city.”
Not everyone, however, was best pleased by the new addition to the city skyline. “Some people don’t like it, and it’s very understandable,” says Copeland, who adds that many objected to its location beside the Victorian City Hall. “We’ve had calls from architects, doctors, old ladies who don’t like it. It’s like everything that’s good in the world, there’s always a bit of debate.”
Debate, at least for the moment, has been quelled, however, by the number of tourists that are climbing aboard. “Belfast city centre management want to see it stay and become permanent so there is certainly strong support for keeping the wheel in situ,” says Copeland. “And I think that’s going to continue.”
BEFORE JUMPING on the big wheel bandwagon, however, it’s worth noting that the investment such massive structures require doesn’t always pay off. Take Melbourne’s much-anticipated Southern Star, a 120m high structure that cost some $100 million (€57m) to build. After some delays, the wheel finally opened to the public in December of last year, only to close again a month later after cracks were detected in its structure. The proposed money-spinner has been halted, and remains closed pending major repairs.
Even if Dublin finally gets an operational observation wheel, it may face competition from another proposed attraction, also, as luck would have it, inspired by the London Eye. Developer Barry Boland is to seek planning permission from Dublin City Council for his cable car project for the River Liffey, to be known as “Suas”. The €90 million project would also provide views of the city from cable cars supported on two 80m towers which would be built at Marlborough Street and Wood Quay, and two 60m towers which would be located in the docklands and at Watling Street.
Further competition for the best views of Dublin could also come from the proposed redevelopment of the Carlton cinema site, which originally included a “park in the sky” on the top of the building, at a height of 50m.
Parks, cable cars, wheels and towers – whatever the outcome, Dublin city could have plenty to offer those who are not afraid of heights. Or not. Remember Antony Gormley’s 46m sculpture of a steel man, set to loom over the south quays? Not happening. And the park in the sky? The plan has already been revised and 15 metres chopped off the building height. Will we have transport without wheels, or wheels without transport? The wheeling and dealing is only just beginning.