A new London attraction, designed by Dutch architectural firm MVRDV, has temporarily closed shortly after opening, after receiving much criticism from the visitors.
March Arch Hill promised panoramic views over London’s Oxford Street and Hyde Park — but since its opening on July 26, visitors have relegated it to a ‘mound of dirt’.
In summary: I enjoyed it. More as you might enjoy a bad statue of Christiano Ronaldo, or a car park Santa's Grotto, with dogs pretending to be reindeer, than as a dazzling spectacle.
— dan barker (@danbarker) July 26, 2021
As long as you go with that expectation it is ok – just a shame it cost 2 million pounds. pic.twitter.com/Jyu90EQKFr
Bringing life back to Oxford street
The 25-metre-tall temporary attraction was supposed to bring life back to Europe’s busiest shopping street, which was hit hard by the number of lockdowns.
The vision of MVRDV was that the hill would “redefine the connection between Oxford Street and Hyde Park” and create an opportunity for residents to experience nature in the city centre.
Disappointment
However, so far it’s brought nothing but disappointment. Visitors felt that the attraction looked like a construction site, looked unfinished, and was nothing like the original designs, reports the NOS.
People who have already booked their £4.50 ticket (Є5.30 — a bit of a rip-off if you ask us considering it’s a short walk up a hill) for the first week of opening will be offered a replacement ticket free of charge, states the Westminster City Council.
“We are aware that elements of the Marble Arch Mound are not yet ready for visitors. We are working hard to resolve this over the next few days,” the council wrote in a statement.
Needs time
The architectural firm MVRDV, which is known for Rotterdam’s famous Markthal, as well as the newly built Depot of Museums Boijmans van Beuningen, has been defending the project.
According to a spokesperson, the attraction was opened too soon. “It’s always unpredictable when you work with plants and trees. We need to give nature some time,” they said.
Have you heard of this attraction? Do you think it was worth the investment? Let us know in the comments below!
Feature Image: Dan Barker/Twitter