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Nothing quite captures the Dickensian nature of a London Christmas like a newly shaken snow globe. And now the city’s Piccadilly Circus has been turned into the real thing. On Nov. 18, the switch was thrown on “the world’s largest snow globe” built around the iconic Shaftesbury Memorial, popularly known as “Eros.”
The structure will be on display until Jan. 4, 2014. The globe also serves to protect the aluminum statue from holiday revelers at one of the city’s busiest intersections.
The monument, erected in 1892, is topped by Alfred Gilbert’s winged nude statue originally intended to be the Greek god Anteros, sometimes referred to as “The Angel of Christian Charity,” but generally known as his brother, Eros.
The globe was designed and constructed by Wales-based Architen Landrell Associates Ltd., recognized for their work in fabrics and air-filled structures. The giant translucent ball features constantly moving artificial snow blown about by eight blowers, and the octagonal base features eight hi-definition LED video screens broadcasting an advertising campaign created by London outdoor marketing firm Wildstone.
The nearly 50-foot-diameter globe comprises nearly 2,250 square feet of fabric weighing half a ton, and sits on 39-foot (diameter) by 13-foot-high steel base.