Emma from the Whitewell Inn (www.innatwhitewell.com) at Dunsop Bridge, Lancashire had a request from her client for a Vodka Luge. Simon was having his 21st Birthday at the Inn. The theme being glitzy and glamourous (star cloths, beautifully and elegantly laid tables) Simon wanted a Vodka Luge to stand out and be different. He could have had just about any design of Vodka Luge he wished. He selected the Blackpool Tower. A really great choice and certainly different!
The Real Blackpool Tower
Construction of the (real) Blackpool Tower started in 1891. When it was finally opened in May 1894 it stood an impressive 158m tall (518 feet). It is a Grade I listed building ranking 120th amongst the tallest structures in the world. We had to condense 518 feet into a 1m Ice Sculpture.
Starting with an ice block measuring 1m tall by 1/2m wide, drawings and plans of the Tower were obtained and mapped out (scaled-down) against the ice block to get the right perspective and design. The real structure is constructed of steel and cement. We could not replicate the steel (individual girders), so we had to give the impression of the building picking on the main characteristics and features. The steel girders were replicated by a cris-crossing design.
The iconic viewing tower had to be carved exactly as per the 'real' tower. This platform 'is' the tower. It is one of the unique features that makes the Blackpool Tower, the Blackpool Tower. One aspect we could not carve - for practical reasons (delivery and fast-melting) was the spire or radio mast at the very top of th Blackpool Tower Vodka Luge. It would have been far to thin and delicate to both transport and assemble on site. Being so thin it would have melted in a very short space of time. All ice sculptures are impressions of real life. The overall impression of the Blackpool Tower was achieved. It could not be mistaken for the Eiffel Tower!
When we set-up the Vodka Luge, Helen (mother of Simon) could only say, "Wow, wow, WOW!" She and her family that were their when we set-up the sculpture were certainly impressed - thank goodness!
SPECIFICATION -
No. of Ice Blocks - ONE
Item - Ice Sculpture or Vodka Luge
Format - Portrait
Height - 1 1/2m x 1/2m wide
Weight - 120kg+
Text - No
INCLUDED -
Delivery to venue - Yes
Complete set-up of sculpture at venue - Yes
Lighting included - Yes
Lighting set-up created for you at venue - Yes
Drain Tray - Yes
Thick-bore Tubing - Yes
12-point Check Assessment - Yes