On Tuesday I went to visit the Greenwich peninsula to see how the area has changed since I have last been there back in 2000 when it first opened. Going with the knowledgeable guide that is Spencer we walked around the O2 complex. At the moment they were constructing a giant pyramid to advertise the new Tutankhamen exhibition alongside a giant Tutankhamen.
Inside the O2 it still feels as large as last time even with the majority of the dome being taken up by the new arena. All the shops are in an Art Deco style with tree lined "streets" to make you feel like your more outside. However, about 3 quarters of the O2 is still a building site and when there are no major events on it feels like a ghost town. Considering how large the structure is you would think there would be a great deal of opportunity to put many other developments inside it that would be beneficial to the surrounding communities.
From visiting the dome in 2000 the best thing I thought about it was the outside space facing the Thames and how nice it was to walk around the outside of the structure. However, since the re-development it doesn't feel as connected to the river with footpaths being restricted by fencing, as your made to avoid large areas of land still unsure on development. It also feels that no money has been put in by the council to maintain the Thames footpath since 2000 leaving it very under maintained and cold (although that could just be the sea breeze). Although it is early days and the areas owned by the O2 have been landscaped nicely. Considering it's not that long off till the Olympics and the O2 is holding a great deal of events I hope they will make better use of this large peninsula of land by then.
Inside the O2 it still feels as large as last time even with the majority of the dome being taken up by the new arena. All the shops are in an Art Deco style with tree lined "streets" to make you feel like your more outside. However, about 3 quarters of the O2 is still a building site and when there are no major events on it feels like a ghost town. Considering how large the structure is you would think there would be a great deal of opportunity to put many other developments inside it that would be beneficial to the surrounding communities.
From visiting the dome in 2000 the best thing I thought about it was the outside space facing the Thames and how nice it was to walk around the outside of the structure. However, since the re-development it doesn't feel as connected to the river with footpaths being restricted by fencing, as your made to avoid large areas of land still unsure on development. It also feels that no money has been put in by the council to maintain the Thames footpath since 2000 leaving it very under maintained and cold (although that could just be the sea breeze). Although it is early days and the areas owned by the O2 have been landscaped nicely. Considering it's not that long off till the Olympics and the O2 is holding a great deal of events I hope they will make better use of this large peninsula of land by then.
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