Contractors have today finally started tearing down London’s ‘disastrous’ Marble Arch Mound after the pile was widely panned.
The £6million eyesore, which has been scathingly nicknamed ‘S**t Hill’ by pundits, is being dismantled after it was branded the ‘capital’s worst tourist attraction’ and a ‘waste of money’ following six months of relentless mockery and ridicule.
It was built next to Marble Arch in July last year in a bid to lure shoppers back to Oxford Street shops to give London’s economy a boost after the Covid shutdown.
But reviews for the 82ft mound of scaffolding, wooden boards and turf were so bad that Westminster City Council scrapped the £8 entrance fee out of embarrassment.
Much of the view into neighbouring Hyde Park was obstructed by trees, while many visitors found the vantage point ‘bland’ and obstructed by metal safety wires. Refunds were offered just days after it opened, following what the authority called ‘teething problems’.
One council chief even quit after Labour’s Adam Hug claimed the ‘slag heap’ had ‘brought shame on Westminster across the world’. The local authority also came under fire after it emerged the project’s total costs had ballooned.
Contractors have today started tearing down London’s controversial Marble Arch Mound after the eyesore was widely panned
The £6million pile, nicknamed ‘S**t Hill’, is being dismantled after it was branded the ‘capital’s worst tourist attraction’ and a ‘waste of money’ following six months of mockery and ridicule
This was built next to Marble Arch last July to lure shoppers to Oxford Street after the Covid lockdowns.
But reviews for the 82ft mound of scaffolding, wooden boards and turf were so bad that Westminster City Council scrapped the £8 entrance fee
People queue outside Marble Arch Mound, central London, on January 9, 2022
Mountains of money: Westminster council official in charge of the Marble Arch mound fiasco was paid more than the authority’s Chief Executive with a £220,000 salary making him the authority’s highest-paid employee
Elad Eisstein was responsible for the Marble Arch Mound
The official from Westminster City Council responsible for the Marble Arch Mound project was also the highest-paid local employee, exceeding even the chief executive.
Elad Eisenstein was appointed as Oxford Street district improvement director with a salary of £220,000 in October 2020.
His role placed him charge of a £150million regeneration programme, including the eye-popping tourist attraction.
Mr Eisentstein earned even more than the £217,545 paid to the local authority’s chief executive Stuart Love.
MailOnline has learned that Marble Arch Mound was visited over 250,000 times in its first year of existence.
It was built by FM Conway Construction and NRP.
MVRDV have built a series of high-profile structures, including the futuristic ‘Market Hall’ in Rotterdam, which has become one of the city’s main attractions.
It also designed an infamous pair of apartment towers in South Korea that were unbelievably reminiscent of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York, with a pair of towers joined by a ‘pixelate’ cloud. It was ultimately cancelled after much protest.
Winy Maas (founder partner, MVRDV) had been instrumental in creating anticipation prior to Marble Arch Mound opening.
He told Architect’s Journal prior to the opening: ‘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?’.
The design was also embraced by Westminster Council, who were eager to see its results.
Prior to opening, Mr Maas appeared to admit that the actual hill wasn’t up to his designs.
He told the Guardian: ‘It’s not enough, we are all fully aware that it needs more substance. There are many extras to add on top of the stair.
‘But I think it still opens people’s eyes and prompts an intense discussion. It’s OK for it to be vulnerable.
‘Imagine if you lifted up Hyde Park at each of its corners. Speaker’s Corner could be transformed into a kind of tribune, with a perfect view across an endless landscape.’
This mound cost Melvyn Capp, deputy leader at Westminster City Council who was forced to resign after total project costs ballooned.
The council’s leader, Rachael Robathan, said in a statement in August that Cllr Caplan had resigned with immediate effect after a ‘totally unacceptable’ rise in costs.
Much of the view into neighbouring Hyde Park was obstructed by trees and surrounding buildings, while many visitors found the vantage point ‘bland’ and obstructed by safety wires
Refunds were offered to members of the public days after it opened, following what the authority called ‘teething problems’
It was built by FM Conway Construction and NRP.
It was revealed earlier this month that that the Westminster City Council official who oversaw the project was the local authority’s highest paid employee during his tenure – surpassing even the chief executive.
Elad Eisenstein was appointed as Oxford Street district improvement director with a salary of £220,000 in October 2020.
His role placed him charge of a £150million regeneration programme, including the eye-popping tourist attraction.
Mr Eisentstein earned even more than the £217,545 paid to the local authority’s chief executive Stuart Love.
Their salaries were revealed in a document outlining the pay of all 179 Westminster City Council workers earning above £68,000 a year.
How Marble Arch was built originally to serve as Buckingham Palace’s grand entrance
Designed to be a grand celebration of British victories in the Napoleonic Wars, Marble Arch was designed by John Nash – the architect to King George IV – in 1827.
It was intended to be the state entrance to Buckingham Palace and initially stood near where there the central part of the building – complete with the famous balcony – is today.
Whilst most of its grand panels and statues had been completed by 1830, the death that year of the King led to the sacking of Nash by the Duke of Wellington – the then Prime Minister – for overspending.
Designed to be a grand celebration of British victories in the Napoleonic Wars, Marble Arch was designed by John Nash – the architect to King George IV – in 1827. It was intended to be the state entrance to Buckingham Palace and initially stood near where there the central part of the building – complete with the famous balcony – is today
Edward Blore, an architect friend was given the task of completing the Arch in a much more elegant manner.
The Arch itself was completed in 1833, whilst the central gates were added in 1837 – just in time for Queen Victoria’s accession to the throne.
Blore’s larger Buckingham Palace overshadowed the Arch, and the decision was made in 1850 for the Arch to be moved to Cumberland Gate. It became a grand entry to Hyde Park during the Great Exhibition of 1851.
After a short trip, it was taken apart stone by stone.
The park was cut by a new road in 1908 which separated the Arch from Hyde Park. In the 1960s, roads were widen again, leaving Hyde Park in its current isolated location.
The Arch achieved Grade-1 listing status in 1970.