London's £2m Marble Arch 'Mound' Looks Like A 'Slag Heap'

A £2 million 'hill' has been erected at London's famous Marble Arch monument - and it has not been very well received, having been described as a 'slag heap'.

Created by world-renowned design firm MVRDV, the purpose of Marble Arch Hill was to 'give visitors an overview of Oxford Street and the park'.

Well, people have finally had the opportunity to scale the enormous structure in the heart of the country's capital, and it only cost them £6.50 for the (dis)pleasure.

Sharing their experiences of seeing the hill in all its glory, some visitors have described it as 'scaffolding covered in patchy sod and plastic sheeting', the 'Teletubbies house' and a 'slag heap'.

Sharing their thoughts on the attraction to Twitter, one person said simply: "That Marble Arch ant hill is ridiculous."

Echoing these concerns, another wrote: "I ran to the s*** hill at Marble Arch today and it did not disappoint.

"It's literally just scaffolding covered in patchy sod and plastic sheeting and from tomorrow you can pay £8(!!) to climb the stairs to marvel at the busy intersection from a height.

"Omg it's so bad."

A third added: "'Marble Arch Mound'. For just £2million, during a pandemic where kids go hungry, the Tory council have managed to recreate a slag heap that manages to convey the delights of a fly tipping layby found in the lawless wastelands of the North."

While another critic asked: "Did they build the Marble Arch Mound in Minecraft?"

Don't sit on the fence, guys, tell us how you really feel.

Winy Maas, founding partner at MVRDV, had previously told Architect's Journal: "It's a location full of contradictions, and our design highlights that.

"By adding this landscape element, we make a comment on the urban layout of the Marble Arch, and by looking to the site's history, we make a comment on the area's future.

"Marble Arch Hill strengthens the connection between Oxford Street and the park via the Marble Arch.

"Can this temporary addition help inspire the city to undo the mistakes of the 1960s, and repair that connection?"

Maybe it's a grower.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Art, Twitter, Weird, London

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

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