Park News
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i360
The shape of towers to come?
When they designed the London Eye in the late 1990s, British architects David Marks and Julia Barfield started a “Ferris Wheel Renaissance” that influenced the way many rides have looked since. While many are still copying the Eye’s all-white appearance, sometimes with less elegant results, Marks Barfield have moved on and will soon unveil their take on the observation tower with a new structure taking shape soon in the English seaside town of Brighton. Set to open in summer 2016, the 162-
metre-tall i360 attraction will be the highest ascending observation tower in the world – and here’s the saucer-shaped capsule that will climb up its massive pole. The 200 passenger glass panelled pod will rise 138m
above the ground, offering views for miles and miles. The capsule is pictured here at the French Alps facilities of cable car company
POMA, which also designed the 32 capsules and drive system on the London Eye and also those on the Las Vegas High Roller and Macau Golden Reel. Weighing 94 tonnes when empty, the saucer-shaped construction has a total surface area of 180 sq m.
Forming the main tower structure will be 17 “cans” piled one on top of the other.
Manufactured by the Dutch company Hollandia, there were shipped to the UK this summer from Rotterdam. The vertical aerial ropeway that will transport the pod up and down the tower was conceived by the global engineering group Jacobs, which is project managing the task together with local firm HOP and POMA subsidiary Sigma. “We are going to build something totally unique and internationally renowned,” say
Julia Barfield and David Marks in a joint statement. “We are very enthusiastic about working once again with this top team.” The i360 will be located on the site of Brighton’s historic West Pier, where it will be
joined by a ground level restaurant, souvenir shop, exhibition area and conference/event facilities. A 45m Bussink-designed observation wheel which has been operating further along the promenade since 2011 is expected to depart in May in anticipation of the observation tower’s opening.
brightoni360.co.uk
Sunkid celebrates Heege history at factory launch
The ride manufacturer Sunkid Heege celebrated a special anniversary recently at its new German fabrication facilities in Bassenheim. Moderated by managing director Dirk K. Runzheimer, the gathering of friends,
customers and colleagues included contributions from among others Bernd Heege, one of the Heege company founders. Acquired by Austrian supplier Sunkid just a few years ago, Heege has 40-year history and is known for its appealing low-tech rides and attractions. During the factory event, long-time employees were honoured and a positive outlook for the future was presented. The celebration then continued in high spirits with a buffet and mini “Oktoberfest” in the assembly hall. The new site, which will act as the new Sunkid Heege headquarters, replaces
former facilities in Leienkaul and Linden, which were deemed inadequate to meet medium term demand. Located right near the Koblenz highway interchange, the factory can be conveniently reached by customers and suppliers from all directions.
BELOW: Thumbs up for the new factory: Dirk Runzheimer (centre) with Sunkid chief technical officer Herbert Zopf (left) and CEO Emanuel Wohlfarter
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