BERLIN | Great Wheel Development News

[Tiaren]

Finally it seems to be sure, that it will be built! The highest Giant Wheel in Europe.

Unfortunately I just can post the latest News in German:
http://www.welt.de/data/2007/01/09/1171180.html

Official website of the Great Wheel Corporation:
http://www.greatwheel.com/berlin_deutsch.htm
http://www.greatwheel.com/

I think, it's a wonderful idea! :-)

[Jamandell (d69)]

Welll...at least we can say London is a great trendsetter when it comes to big wheels! :)

[Tiaren]

Welll...at least we can say London is a great trendsetter when it comes to big wheels! :)

Was the London Eye worlwide the first Giant Wheel? I mean one, that is far more than 100 metres high?

[ZZ-II]

yes, london eye is 135m tall :)

that are wonderful news for berlin, than it'll be the 2nd tallest structure in the city ( i have not counted sendeturm schäferberg)

[Twipsy]

In fact there were even two companies which wanted to build a giant wheel in Berlin, but the city council wants to see which of them has the better concept and then approve only one of them.

I think they should approve both wheels. Osaka also has quite a few wheels (around 100 metres).

[philvia]

You Europeans get all excited over a ferris wheel :P

[ZZ-II]

disagree, one wheel for berlin is enough

[Tiaren]

You Europeans get all excited over a ferris wheel :P

Well...it's a biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig ferris wheel. ;-)

[Myster E]

I'm glad Berlin is getting this wonder, Berlin is defo one of my top favourite European cities, it's been very quiet with developments lately compared to Moscow, Paris and London.

[Jamandell (d69)]

You Europeans get all excited over a ferris wheel :P

It isn't a ferris wheel...ferris wheels "cars" hang beneath the wheel always, whereas here the "pods" are always on the outside, making it an observation wheel.

And Singapore's pretty excited about it's big wheel too :)

[Eureka!]

We're getting a big wheel in Melbourne too. Or we were. Haven't heard about it for a while but they had started to make the pods. It was to be 120-125m high.

[Giedrius_LT]

Dubai will build 700 metres high wheel :D

[ZZ-II]

no, only 200 or so :D

[Tiaren]

Dubai will build 700 metres high wheel :D

What, just 700m? :nuts:
That kind of disappoints me. ;)

[Erebus555]

You Europeans get all excited over a ferris wheel :P

No, only the Germans at the moment. Europe isn't a country :nuts:.

I love Berlin and I think a wheel would help. Place it somewhere where you don't usually get the high up views though :).

[HT]

Sorry doublepost -_-

[HT]

Dubai will build 700 metres high wheel :D#



It would take 3 days for one round :lol:

[gunners]

ahhh yes, london the trend setter for viewing wheels "follow me my deciples"

[Brendan]

That is actually pretty big for a wheel.

About the size of the Gherkin, perhaps?

[Dan1987]

That is actually pretty big for a wheel.

About the size of the Gherkin, perhaps?

Yes, the 30 St Mary's Axe is 180m tall

[irving1903]

Was the London Eye worlwide the first Giant Wheel? I mean one, that is far more than 100 metres high?

Nope... at least i dont think so...im pretty sure it either goes to the Texas Star @ the Texas State Fair or some other one in Japan...

but as for having the first MODERN big wheel...London has that record for now.

[Skyman]

Very nice project for Berlin

[delahaye]

the first giant wheel was built in vienna - it's the 105 year old prater ...

[Brendan]

Hi Skyman.

Thankyou for posting the renderings, it looks like a nice wheel! Cannot wait to see it under construction, or better. Built.

[SYDNEYAHOLIC]

Berlin is a great place to build such a massive observation wheel because there aren't many tall buildings to obstruct your view.

You would have a clear view over all of central Berlin and more.

[ZZ-II]

great pics, looks all very modern

[Tiaren]

Berlin is a great place to build such a massive observation wheel because there aren't many tall buildings to obstruct your view.

You would have a clear view over all of central Berlin and more.

The view will really be awesome, because the wheel is located next to the Zoo of Berlin, which is really a beauty. It is also near the Tiergarten (park) and near the Kurfürstendamm (famous avenue) with the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche (memorial church).

[PakPanjabi]

COPYCATS, the germans always good in copyin technology, economic policies, legal reforms, social trends etc etc etc , now gona copy London Eye WOW congrats

[ZZ-II]

lol, copy london eye.....nobody copy's the London Eye......Dubai will built a Wheel, Singapur actually does, Peking will, Berlin............

[krull]

Back in 2004, there was a proposal for a Ferries Wheel of 450 feet in lower Manhattan. I am so glad that crappy idea just die off. :ohno:


http://www.pbase.com/image/29326121.jpg

http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showpost.php?p=27896&postcount=1

[ZZ-II]

agree, such a wheel wouldn't look good in Manhattan!

[Its AlL gUUd]

Nope... at least i dont think so...im pretty sure it either goes to the Texas Star @ the Texas State Fair or some other one in Japan...

but as for having the first MODERN big wheel...London has that record for now.

London has the first observation wheel and the rest are just following suite.

[Monkey]

the first giant wheel was built in vienna - it's the 105 year old prater ...Vienna's wheel, completed 1897, was built by an Englishman, Walter Bassett, who had already built a similar large ferris wheel in London (completed in 1895 and dismantled in 1907). Even the relatively recent and large wheels in Japan also belong to a previous generation of ferris wheels. The London Eye was the first of a new generation of observation wheels and Singapore and Berlin are obviously copying that. I don't mind though. Cities copy one another all the time and immitation is the highest form of flattery after all... ;)

[krull]

Cities copy one another all the time and immitation is the highest form of flattery after all... ;)

I agree, just like the skyscraper. ;)

If they do one in NYC, I think one on Governors Island will be ideal. but not in Manhattan.

http://www.tropolism.com/govsisland.jpg

[Skyman]

Some renderings from official site www.greatwheel.com

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/7069/gw1tm1.png http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/9338/gw2ik9.png

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/2846/gw3jf6.png http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/8762/gw4yk6.png

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/4410/gw6nm4.png http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/3318/gw5xa0.png

[Slartibartfas]

Vienna's wheel, completed 1897, was built by an Englishman, Walter Bassett, who had already built a similar large ferris wheel in London (completed in 1895 and dismantled in 1907). Even the relatively recent and large wheels in Japan also belong to a previous generation of ferris wheels. The London Eye was the first of a new generation of observation wheels and Singapore and Berlin are obviously copying that. I don't mind though. Cities copy one another all the time and immitation is the highest form of flattery after all... ;)

So what? London copied its own historic concept (whereas Viennas Giant wheel is the last remaining example of that old guard) and improved as well as enlarged it. Other cities do the same now.

If you introduce the idea of "originality" than it has to be referring to the one in Vienna. Everything else is a modern adopted copy of the same concept. And I have no problem in pointing out that the one in Vienna is in fact a british construction.

[Pres_of_2036]

pretty nice renderings! :)

[jansej]

great news for berlin.. hopefully will be the highest wheel in the world...

[ZZ-II]

don't be so sure....dubai will build also one and this will be maybe over 200m tall

[Obelixx]

I look forward to this Ferris Wheel and when I will travel to Berlin after its completion, I will take a ride on it. And what is the best: it looks good for its realization, which is today often not the case at such projects in Germany today ( nevertheless nearly all people in Germany not living in and around Berlin do not know from this project).

This Ferris Wheel will be not the first stationary Ferris Wheel in Berlin:

In 1969 Spreepark an amusement park in Berlin-Treptow was built. In this park was also a Ferris Wheel built. In 1989 this Ferris Wheel was replaced by a 45 metre diametre Ferris Wheel.
Since the closure of Spreepark in 2001, this Ferris Wheel is unused, but it may be still functionable and it is not planned to demolish it. If this Ferris Wheel will be put in service again and the 175 metre Ferris Wheel will be built Berlin will have 2 Ferris Wheels!

Which other town has or had this?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Berlin-Pl%C3%A4nterwald_-_Spreepark_-_Riesenrad.jpg/450px-Berlin-Pl%C3%A4nterwald_-_Spreepark_-_Riesenrad.jpg
45 metre Ferris Wheel in Spreepark. Further information ( in German) on http://www.spreepark.de/fahrgeschaefte/30_riesenrad.htm , http://www.fladeparade.de/berlin_spreepark2.html , http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spreepark

[samsonyuen]

I like the idea of wheels as a observation point, lots of vantage points to choose from.

[KoolKeatz]

http://www.tagesspiegel.de/storage/pic/fotos/berlin/150395_1_friesenrad.jpg

[GNU]

COPYCATS, the germans always good in copyin technology, economic policies, legal reforms, social trends etc etc etc , now gona copy London Eye WOW congrats


LoL?
btw. i doubt that the London Eye has been the first ferris wheel in service.........

[Jamandell (d69)]

The London Eye (and this new proposed Berlin Wheel) are NOT ferris wheels! They are Observation Wheels! (Ferris wheels are different structurally)

[GNU]

As if one couldnt make any observations from a normal ferris wheel.
Anyways, without any ferris wheel there would be no observation wheel either I guess.

[khoojyh]

i like Las Vegas one, their one more to futuristic.

[Justme]

As if one couldnt make any observations from a normal ferris wheel.
Anyways, without any ferris wheel there would be no observation wheel either I guess.

I think it's a fair comment regarding the copying of the London Eye (but not Germans copying in general).

The London eye was the first true modern observation wheel, built in the heart of the city not as a fairground attraction, but as an observation platform. Since it's construction, a pile of cities around the world including Berlin, Singapore and Melbourne have begun or planned to build their own.

They are in fact copies of the London idea.

That said, none has yet proved to be either as elegant or in as spectacular location as the London one, right on the Thames and over looking parliament.

[HelloMoto163]

http://www.welt.de/multimedia/archive/00288/Rad1_DW_Berlin_Berl_288446a.jpg
from: WeltOnline

[goschio]

Nice, I like!

[Tiaren]

Yeah. Looks great! :)

[ZZ-II]

breathtaking project, i still can't believe we'll have such a wheel here in germany

[shrekroma]

Very nice. Looks really modern.

[Twipsy]

As a photographer I would prefer not have have the same curved windows as the London Eye. Of course the design of the capsules looks nice, but such windows make every photo a little blur, at least blur enough to make a photo unsellable at major agencies. What about cylindric capsules with flat windows at two sides?

[erbsenzaehler]

^ I think that would be a great idea... And it gives more character to it (because it wouldn't be that similar to the London Eye maybe). Perhaps u can submit this suggestion for the responsible architects? :D

[Monkey]

So what? London copied its own historic concept (whereas Viennas Giant wheel is the last remaining example of that old guard) and improved as well as enlarged it. Other cities do the same now.

If you introduce the idea of "originality" than it has to be referring to the one in Vienna. Everything else is a modern adopted copy of the same concept. And I have no problem in pointing out that the one in Vienna is in fact a british construction.1) Vienna's wheel was completed in 1897 - two years after London's Gigantic Wheel (1895) and four years after Ferris's original wheel in Chicago (1893).

2) Vienna's wheel is much smaller than London's Gigantic Wheel (Vienna's is 200ft high wheras London's was 300ft).

3) Vienna's Prater wheel has never been enlarged and only has half the original number of capsules.

4) Vienna's wheel was built by Englishman Walter Bassett who had already built the larger ferris wheel in London.

[builder1010]

1) Vienna's wheel was completed in 1897 - two years after London's Gigantic Wheel (1895) and four years after Ferris's original wheel in Chicago (1893).

2) Vienna's wheel is much smaller than London's Gigantic Wheel (Vienna's is 200ft high wheras London's was 300ft).

3) Vienna's Prater wheel has never been enlarged and only has half the original number of capsules.

4) Vienna's wheel was built by Englishman Walter Bassett who had already built the larger ferris wheel in London.

oh, think the lesson here is "never invent the wheel again":lol:

[CORLEONE]

I just prefer an observation tower which you can go up and see. This building, in my opinion, gives the city a circus eviroment which I don´t like, it also takes view of the city to the people who is outside the ferris wheel. I went once to Berlin and I loved it. Amazing city!!! Beautiful buildings... The only thing I didn´t like too much was the underground "up the ground":banana: . The rest was reeeealy nice.

[CORLEONE]

IN FACT THIS IS WHAT I SAW FALLING LAST SUMMER IN BERLIN!!!! :ohno:


http://www.angelfire.com/wy/pedrito/berlin/BERLIN_073.jpg

http://www.angelfire.com/wy/pedrito/berlin/BERLIN_075.jpg

http://www.angelfire.com/wy/pedrito/berlin/BERLIN_074.jpg

[CORLEONE]

If somebody has problems to see it plase go to this link:

http://www.angelfire.com/wy/pedrito/berlin

Apart from some pics from my trip to Berlin you will find pics of the mess...

[M.Schwerdtner]

poor mercedes ...

[goschio]

breathtaking project, i still can't believe we'll have such a wheel here in germany


Breathtaking???

LOL :lol:

[ZZ-II]

what have the pics to do with the wheel?

[CORLEONE]

what have the pics to do with the wheel?

NOTHING :cheers: :lol:

[GNU]

I just prefer an observation tower which you can go up and see. This building, in my opinion, gives the city a circus eviroment which I don´t like, it also takes view of the city to the people who is outside the ferris wheel. I went once to Berlin and I loved it. Amazing city!!! Beautiful buildings... The only thing I didn´t like too much was the underground "up the ground":banana: . The rest was reeeealy nice.


Well Berlin already has two observation towers.
But I aggree about the circus environment. It looks a bit dominating, Especially since Berlin doesnt have a large number of scrapers.

[Cappellen]

Finally it seems to be sure, that it will be built! The highest Giant Wheel in Europe.

Unfortunately I just can post the latest News in German:
http://www.welt.de/data/2007/01/09/1171180.html

Official website of the Great Wheel Corporation:
http://www.greatwheel.com/berlin_deutsch.htm
http://www.greatwheel.com/

I think, it's a wonderful idea! :-)


Looks cool and will be a candy for tourists :)

[CORLEONE]

Obviusly the views are going to be amazing... If you already have two observation towers, on of them in the middle of the city with amazing views (DO NOT GO AT NIGHT, THE CEILING OF THE OBSERVATOR IN WITHe AND REFLEX IN THE WINDOWS SO YOU CAN´T SEE!!!! THEY SHOULD PUT BLACK CEILINIG!!!!!) I think that are enough towers for the same purpose.

[ZZ-II]

Breathtaking???

LOL :lol:

why not ^^

[Rbs]

Nice Proyect for Berlin ;) :okay:

[skyboi]

I prefer Observation tower better , elegance , sleak ,the wheel to me is like disney land's ride for kids

[goschio]

why not ^^

Because the wheel is tacky and belongs to the oktoerfest but not into the german capital. Shamefull.

[skyboi]

Berlin is a sophisticated beautiful City ,It doesn't need this kind of Disneyland's wheel in the middle of the City, and you are right , this wheel belongs to the octoberfest

[Langur]

I think it will look great. The London Eye doesn't look "disneyland" at all and neither will this. They are extremely elegant, light, and minimalist features on the skyline - and breathtaking at night. :)

[Darryl]

Is the thing even gonna get built anyway? Looks like the project was either trashed or on hold.