To be amused by how absurdly shite the marble arch mound is

[Gardentiger]

I mean honestly, it's just abysmal

I know it's not funny that 2 million pounds could have been put up much better use, but the sheer crapness of it is making me laugh

The Google reviews are brilliant

So basically it is an ugly staircase that you pay £6 to walk up?

Arthurs Seat is free, when you pay to walk up stairs it's the beautiful Scott Monument but we now also have a big jobby (translated to turd in English) dominating the skyline.

I saw it last week and thought it was the side-effect of some building work that was going on. I was taken aback when my friend told me it was there on purpose, so to speak.

Astonishingly shit waste of money.

It's a temporary installation, apparently.

Does anyone know how likely no it's expected to be there?

The planting is not going to mature in that time, is it?

I know that you're meant to want to walk up it for the views, but right now it just doesn't look attractive, and I don't see how it will become so

Wasn't it all meant to be a kick start to making Oxford Street more attractive? Perhaps they should instead be planting more trees (planes?) permanently along it? And uplifting the gardening/arboriculture butdget to improve/mantain all street gardening?

You have to pay to walk up it? It's only 25m high ffs (not that you'd want it any bigger).

Worth the money? Possibly not though I think lots of cities would benefit from more green space.

It is literally right next to a 350-acre park.

You have to pay to go up it (and be flogged M&S sandwiches from the interior, it seems) as ticket sales and sponsorship are meant to cover the costs.

I've googled about it since earlier post: it's due to be there until January 2022, and it's part of a £150m revamp of the Oxford Street area.

The tress and other planting will be replanted in schools, other open spaces etc once the mound is dismantled. I can't help,but think that it might not be terribly good for trees to be moved often

@ErrolTheDragon

Wtf? Have they dug a big hole in London (maybe for a tube line or underground car park), dumped the waste in a heap and randomly bunged some trees on it?

EXACTLY what it looks like to me.

A mound of dirt that that been excavated, that they threw grass seed on and a couple of Christmas trees have re rooted.

Emperors new clothes me thinks.

squirm the trees are still in huge pots I believe, standing on scaffolding under the turf. So at least their lives haven't been sacrificed for this monstrosity.

Teletubbies home. It just needs Jessica to pop up over it.

The scaffolding must be quite a feat of engineering!

From the website
"Book your tickets early to avoid disappointment as this is a viewing experience you do not want to miss out on."
🤣🤣🤣

Does it obstruct a previous view of marble arch?

I'm trying to remember what was there before

@OneTC

Does it obstruct a previous view of marble arch?

I'm trying to remember what was there before

Yes. Yes, it does. I really thought they were doing something restorative to Marble Arch, and the massive pile of shite was some kind of slag heap.

It's immediately to the west of Marble Arch, which is possibly not the best side to be viewing at it - you'd see only the side (not the actual arch, best seen from south, also possible from the north)

Presumably it's wildlife friendly so grass and trees rather than formal stuff

It is very funny, apart from the waste of money of course.

If it's only meant to be there until Jan 2022 how on earth did anyone believe the plants and trees would get established and grow by then.

The fact it's right next to a beautiful open park is bloody stupid.

It's just a viewing platform.

Embarrassing pile of crap, literally.

According to twitter it's covered in astroturf and will be taken down next January.

If it's only there until January 2022 that means it costs £400,000 per month! For what looks like a slag heap. It's not going to be good for nature either if animals move in and then the whole thing is torn down in a few months. I agree with PPs, it would be funny if it wasn't a criminal waste of tax payers' money.

I dont think it will be wildlife friendly if its astro turf and the trees looked few and far in between.

I think they would have better off just hiring a cherry picker for 6 months, a lot cheaper too and would probably look better.

Viewing platform ffs

So an urban grass mound with a cave-like interior full of M&S sandwiches and crumbs, above the underground, near sewers?

Rat City, just saying.

With a feral pigeon shit outer casing.

@Fizbosshoes

I just googled it - they're offering refunds. From the pictures I can understand why! It seems a massive waste of money....and it's only temporary, so how long to wait til it looks more landscaped or like the plans v how long its "dismantled"?

That was my thinking as well, I can't imagine that the plants are going to get established in the (thankfully) short amount of time that it's going to be in place. WTF were they thinking spending money on that?! That's going to be a great example of the problems of groupthink/focus groups in the future.

Building an artificial mound of grass and plants next to a park, that has no views because the surrounding building are taller. Just madness. The decision makers for that one have some serious questions to answer!

Ivor within walking distance. Thought I’d pop by v early one morning then realised it had to be booked !? Bloody hell it looks awful but haven’t seen it in the flesh. Doesn’t sound terribly safe to me when I read of scaffolding structure and plywood. And one of the ‘attractions’ is ‘m and s’ food outlet. Not sounding good.

whatamess cherrypicked a great idea. I’d pay good money to go up on one of those (or a high crane) and it could be a moving thing allowing all areas to have their ‘moment in the clouds’