TheArcelorMittal Orbit’s Ambivalent Effect and the London Olympics: Art, Regeneration, Business and Sustainability

This article examines the ambivalent effect of the ArcelorMittal Orbit artwork locally and globally, considering the process of its production and the impact of its final outcome. The ArcelorMittal Orbit aspires to become a permanent emblem of the regeneration of East London and a model for sustainability. However, its level of engagement with the surrounding area and the public and its relationship to ecological priorities are uncertain. The sculpture finds itself between art and architecture and enters the global architectural competitiveness often fostered by the Olympics, which frequently follows ambiguous practices in contemporary urban regeneration.