The Millennium Dome: The Official Book of the Dome Book

As big as 13 Albert Halls. Capable of swallowing two Wembley Stadiums, the Eiffel Tower on its side or even the Great Pyramid of Giza. It sports a translucent canopy held up by 43 miles of high-strength steel cable and is able to support the weight of a jumbo jet. The Millennium Dome attracts superlative comparisons like a politician attracts lawsuits. But greatest of all, the Dome has to carry the weight of public expectation resting upon it. The Millennium Dome is more than a building to mark the new millennium--it has become a national lightning rod picking up the fears and fantasies of the Great British public at the end of a tumultuous century for this country and thus it has become a symbol of what it means to be British today. Visitors can judge its success or failure as they tour through its 14 zones but readers of The Millennium Dome are privy to an expertly narrated tour every bit as entertaining and intriguing. Written with access to all the key personalities; illustrated with exclusive photographs, architectural plans and drawings; officially endorsed by the New Millennium Experience Company and with a foreword by Tony Blair, The Millennium Dome is the flagship publication about the project and the most comprehensive visual record available. Its architect, Richard Rogers, has described it as "an odyssey into the future, a 21st century Stonehenge"; and although--who knows?--the Dome's longevity may not quite match Stonehenge's in the year 3000, it will perhaps be remembered as an almost mythical example of the manifestation of a truly remarkable millennial vision. The Millennium Dome elegantly and comprehensively describes the key moments in the planning and building of the Dome and looks at the issues tackled along the way. While inevitably the narrative discusses the government decision-makers and other high-profile figures associated with the Dome without whose political willpower the project would have been impossible, first and foremost it relates the Dome experience through the eyes of those who had a more hands-on involvement in the project--the architects, engineers and construction workers.Long after the political recriminations have faded, this extraordinary edifice will persist in memory. The Millennium Dome is a must for architecture buffs, public affairs aficionados and a fascinating resource for all the family.--Fiona BucklandRead More