Visitors to London's Marble Arch will soon be able to see the area from a completely new perspective thanks to an unusual project by MVRDV. The company plans to install a hill-like hollow structure in the UK capital in the coming months.
Marble Arch Hill (aptly named) is a man-made hill commissioned by Westminster City Council to promote interest in the area following the crisis seen in most major cities due to Covid closures. The project draws inspiration from the history of the local area, as well as other MVRDV proposals: the Serpentine Pavilion of 2014 and the Stairs to Criterion .
“MVRDV's proposal for this hill takes inspiration from the history of the site,” explains the company's press release.
Marble Arch once marked the corner of Hyde Park, but in the 60s new streets were added that turned the arch into a traffic island, disconnected from the rest of the park.
MVRDV
The hill design introduces a park-like landscape of grass and trees, and “lifts” this recreated corner of Hyde Park to create a spectacular 25-metre rise that gives visitors a new perspective on that spot in the city.
A hill at a glance!
Visitors will be able to reach the top of the hill using a winding wooden path. Once they have admired the beautiful view, they will then be able to go down to a room in the heart of the structure which will be used for events and exhibitions.
The artificial (temporary) hill will consist of a large scaffolding structure topped with layers of wood, earth, grass and trees. All this will then be reused in nearby gardens and parks once disassembled.
The project is scheduled to open in July 2021. The closing date of the “new London hill” is yet to be defined. According to the Evening Standard , only 25 people will be able to visit Marble Arch Hill at a time and may have to pay a “nominal” fee to enter and book in advance.
