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Wheels of Fame and Fortune: The Travels of the Singapore Flyer

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  • Erica X. Y. Yap

Abstract

Despite their rapid proliferation across cities world-wide, observation wheels have received far less attention in the academic literature. Drawing on recent work that theorises architecture as mobile, this paper argues that observation wheels must be understood not only as local features of the urban landscape but also as popular travelling urban forms. However, not all wheels have equal propensities for travel. As this paper will show, although the Singapore Flyer is currently the world’s tallest observation wheel, it is much less referenced as a model of inspiration by cities seeking to construct their own wheels as compared to its predecessor, the London Eye. This, it is argued, points to how certain cities continue to be deemed as being more desirable of emulation than others, a reality that should challenge us to remain sensitive to the persistent inequality of our urban worlds.

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  • Erica X. Y. Yap, 2012. "Wheels of Fame and Fortune: The Travels of the Singapore Flyer," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 49(13), pages 2839-2852, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:49:y:2012:i:13:p:2839-2852
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098012452462
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