London attraction an eye-opener on British engineering

How could we now possibly imagine the South Bank without the London Eye? Not only is it a great piece of architecture in one of the best capital cities in the world, it is in itself a great demonstration of British design and engineering.

As a nation we produce world-beating design solutions and sometimes forget the value of this outside of our small island. If it’s not a white personal music player that is set for world domination, or a vacuum cleaner that looks like an alien, we tend to ignore them and fail to give them the recognition they deserve.

But standing tall and proud is only one aspect. The London Eye also opens up other vast opportunities that benefit the public and businesses alike. That’s why it was chosen as the site for Canon’s free outdoor exhibition, The Other Side of Football, which showcases a collection of images taken by some of Europe’s greatest footballers.

The sculptural football game, which features 2m-high football figures, couldn’t have been in a better site to showcase work. It offers a guaranteed high footfall, combined with the wonderful scene the eye and the South Bank create, which ultimately ensures that events such as the Canon exhibition are hugely popular and well attended.

We all remember the Dome, we are all scared about Wembley being another possible overrun and over-budget project, so let’s not forget the impact the London Eye has on us as a nation and, indeed, the rest of the world.

Ian Silverstein, Founder, Creative Action Design, St Albans, AL1 1NG