british airways i360 slender observation tower set to open in brighton

it has been announced that the anticipated 162 meter high observation pod – the ‘british airways i360’ – is officially opening to the public early august 2016. located on the grade-I listed west pier in brighton, UK, the vertical pier was designed by david marks and julia barfield of marks barfield architects, recognized as the practice that conceived the famous london eye attraction.

images © british airways i360 / drone images by visual air

acknowledged as the world’s most slender tower, the aim of the scheme is to provide locals and visitors a new and highly elevated experience of brighton and hove. taking 11 years to develop, marks barfield architects designed the british airways i360 to operate even in windy conditions. the perforated aluminum cladding around the tower diffuses and disrupts the wind flow to reduce wind-induced vibrations. in addition, dampers are installed inside the tower to prevent vibrations and state-of-the-art cable car technology drives the pod up and down, while energy is generated on its descent. the pod can carry up to 200 people per ride, where passengers can walk around freely around the space with uninterrupted views.

drone captures the observation tower / video © BAi360

the interior of the pod which can hold up to 200 people

british airways i360 will play an important role in the regeneration of the regency square seafront in brighton

the design draws on engineering and technologies associated with cable cars and tower cranes

the construction of british airways i360 cost a total of £42.2 million

passengers on british airways i360 will board a specially designed pod, ten times the size of a london eye capsule

the new attraction is based on the seafront in brighton

project info:

start on site: july 2014
completion: july 2016

full project team
client: brighton i360 ltd
architect and supervisor: marks barfield architects
civil and structural engineer: jacobs uk
mep services engineer: jacobs uk
project manager: jacobs uk
cdm coordinator / pd: jacobs uk
local pm and civil engineer: helmsley orrell partnership
damping consultant: prof max irvine
pod consultant: nic bailey design
environmental consultant: loren butt consultancies
façade consultant: mott macdonald
lighting consultant: do architecture
planning consultant: dp9
cost consultant: rlf
main contractor: hollandia infra b.v (including design coordination)
steel tower: hollandia infra b.v (including connection design)
pod, drive & control system: pomagalski sas (design build subcontract)
foundations and visitor building: jt mackley & co (cdm principal contractor)

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