The i360 does exactly what it says on the tin: it offers eager visitors a a 360 degree panoramic view from 450 feet in the air.
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From the architects that brought you the London Eye comes the world’s tallest moving observation tower: the British Airways i360 in the southern English city of Brighton.
The tower ran its first ‘test flight’ on Wednesday, giving visitors a 360 degree panoramic view from 450 feet (137 metres) in the air.
Amazing day at the
BA_i360</a> on their pre-opening event. Beautiful blue skies! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/omgb?src=hash">#omgb</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/VisitBritain">VisitBritain pic.twitter.com/H2dyY0lzNe— Matt Cuckston (@matthewcuckston) 3 August 2016
With capacity for up to 200 passengers at a time, the £46 million (54 million euro) i360 will offer visitors a unique view of Brighton’s iconic coastline on each 20 minute trip.
Designed by Marks Barfield Architects, a London-based firm whose work includes the London Eye and the treetop walkway in Kew Gardens, the tower is hoped to “delight”, “entertain”, and “inspire” people.
Architect David Marks said: “Our idea behind this is very simple. It is to give people pleasure.”
Divided opinion
However the tower has divided local opinion, with some Brighton residents calling it a “stunning” piece of modern architecture, and others viewing it as a “monster” that ruins Brighton’s iconic promenade.
Brighton i360: Offensively ugly. How, how, how did they get away with this crime. Money? https://t.co/NCUj7q0JbE
— Astra Bloom (@AstraBloom) August 3, 2016