The Falkirk Wheel‎

[Dreamer]

History

The Millennium Link was an ambitious £84.5m project with the objective of restoring navigability across Scotland on the historic Forth & Clyde Canal and the Union Canal, providing a corridor of regenerative activity through central Scotland.

One major challenge in this objective was the fact that the Forth and Clyde Canal lay 35m (115ft) below the level of the Union Canal. Historically, the two canals had been joined at Falkirk by a flight of 11 locks that stepped down across a distance of 1.5km, but these has been dismantled in 1933, breaking the link.

What was required was a method of connecting the two canals by some means of lifting two boats down the 35m drop as quickly and simply as possible. British Waterways were keen to present a visionary solution taking full advantage of the opportunity to create a truly spectacular and fitting structure that would suitably commemorate the Millennium and act as a symbol for years to come.

The resultant, perfectly balanced structure that is The Falkirk Wheel – the world’s first rotating boat lift – was the eventual outcome of British Waterways working together with a design team that combined the international experience of joint venture contractor Morrison-Bachy-Soletanche with leading specialists from Ove Arup Consultants, Butterley Engineering and Scotland-based RMJM architects.
Completion of The Millennium Link project was officially marked by Her Majesty The Queen on 24 May 2002 at The Falkirk Wheel.


Design

The original concept of a wheel to act as a boat lift actually dates back to 19th Century Europe, but it was first seriously considered by British Waterways as a solution for Falkirk in 1994. Dundee Architects, Nicoll Russell Studios presented a Ferris Wheel type design that was used to secure Millennium Commission Funding for the Project. The development of the project was then secured by a consortium led by Morrison-Bachy-Solentache, and that included Scottish architects RMJM. The combined team then reappraised the original designs of the Wheel. The objective uppermost in all their minds was to create a functional boat lift that could raise and lower boats swiftly whilst celebrating the reconnection of the two historic canals with a structure worthy of a new millennium.

Ideas and concepts were numerous, and varied from rolling eggs to tilting tanks, giant see-saw to overhead monorails and included some complex counterbalanced structures. The final outcome was The Falkirk Wheel, which successfully combines both function and design, creating a stunning piece of working sculpture.

The unique shape of the structure is claimed to have been inspired by various sources, both manmade and natural, such as a Celtic double headed spear, a vast turning propeller of a Clydebank built ship, the ribcage of a whale or the spine of a fish. The canal network as a ‘backbone’ connecting Scotland, east to west seems appropriate and there a true beauty in the repetitive sweeping shapes of the aqueduct. The arches over the aqueduct also add to the drama of the structure, forming a complete circle with the reflection in the canal to extend the feeling of the tunnel. The fact the canal literally ends in mid air creates a thrilling sense of sailing off the edge in to the spectacular scenery of the horizon.

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Página oficial:
http://www.thefalkirkwheel.co.uk/

The site layout:
http://www.thefalkirkwheel.co.uk/downloads/floorplan.pdf

Google Maps:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=pt-PT&resnum=0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=wheel&near=Falkirk,+United+Kingdom&fb=1&cid=0,0,1805527398749272752&sa=X&oi=local_result&resnum=1&ct=image