A Ferris wheel will be installed at Miðbakki this summer. This is a pilot project for one summer, and Taylors Tivoli Iceland ehf will handle installation and operation of the Ferris wheel.
Reykjavík City advertised in March for a partner to operate a Ferris wheel at Miðbakki in Reykjavík Harbor. It is envisioned as an exciting addition to diverse city life and a fun continuation of major development in the city center. There was great interest in the project and four applications were received, but the decision was made to invite Taylors Tivoli Iceland ehf to discussions. The company owns other Ferris wheels and has experience both operating them and running a carnival at Miðbakki. It has been confirmed that the equipment can withstand Icelandic conditions, including wind and earthquakes. Good acoustics will be a priority around the Ferris wheel, and acoustic measurements will be taken during the trial period. This was approved by the City Executive Council today.
The Ferris wheel will stand at Miðbakki, where a bicycle path has been.
Accessibility for all
According to the agreement, Taylors Tivoli Iceland ehf gets use of Miðbakki, Geirsgata 15, until the end of September this year. This involves an area where there is currently a bicycle path, which will be moved to Klambratún. For the use, the company pays 1 million króna per month, and all costs for installation and operation of the Ferris wheel will be the responsibility of Taylors Tivoli Iceland ehf. The city's contribution to the partnership is use of Associated Icelandic Ports grounds for a limited time. The Ferris wheel will be 32 meters tall and have 24 cars. Most of them have six seats, but wheelchair accessibility is also offered.
One of many ideas for enriching the waterfront
The project is part of the City’s broader planning work around waterfront experiences and outdoor recreation, which produced many proposals for improving quality of life and public health, outlined in a report released last fall. The benefits of green spaces are well known, and access to them has been shown to support people’s overall well-being. There’s growing interest in the benefits of access to water — or “blue spaces” — such as seas, rivers, waterfalls, and lakes. Living near water has been linked to better physical and mental health and greater overall well-being. Across Europe, blue spaces are increasingly recognized as valuable city assets for tourism, recreation, and healthy lifestyles. As a result, the City explored options for experiences and outdoor recreation along Reykjavík’s coastline, and the Ferris wheel was one of many ideas featured in the report.
Agreement between Reykjavík City and Taylors Tivoli Iceland ehf and other data.