Years ago I helped escort a group of schoolchildren to Paris and we enjoyed ourselves flying paper darts off the top of the Tour Eiffel.  One landed on the steps of the Ecole Militaire. But then that was Paris, beautiful Paris, a joy to visit, stylish and architectural triumph.

The Arcelor Mittal Orbit sits in the middle of the Olympic village.  The idea was to create a structure, like the Eiffel Tower, as a symbol of the nation, loved and much visited and photographed.  Well, I have seen this structure up fairly close.  A survey showed that 39% of people thought it “beautiful”, fragile”, and “feminine”.  The rest thought it ugly, pointless, and expensive (for London, not for Mr. Mittal). Apparently, Parisians had similar reactions when the Tour was erected. Or so they say.

In the age of Tracy Emin’s bed, complete with condoms, it is not at all impossible that the public will take this mess of red iron to its heart and trek out to Stratford, East London, chiefly known as a transport hub, to gaze longingly at it, while ignoring the indifferent architecture around them . Maybe Arcelor Mittal will find room for a restaurant at the top.