The Cube ( Melbourne, Australia )

[rosscoe]

New view from Melbourne highrise

 

By Shelley Markham

May 01, 2007

 

THRILLSEEKERS can now take in a unique view of Melbourne from a glass-floored cube hanging from the side of the city's tallest building.

The Edge at Eureka will open to the public on May 15 as part of an observation area on the 88th floor of the Eureka Tower apartment block in Southbank.

The glass walls, ceiling and the floor start opaque and gradually become clear as the cube fully extends 3m from the side of the building.

Soothing music followed by the sound of grinding metal and breaking glass were used for sound effects during the media preview ride today.

Project director James Cockburn said he wanted visitors to the observation deck to experience something unique.

"We're trying to go from comfortable to scary. We're sadistic I suppose," Mr Cockburn said.

"We've got an experience that is more than the view."

But Mr Cockburn said the five minute ride is not for the faint-hearted.

"It's a glass box that's sitting on wheels and we're rolling it out from the building," he said.

"It's cantilevered into the building, so we don't actually structurally hold it into the building, it holds itself into the building."

Mr Cockburn said the highest safety standards had been adhered to.

"It's very, very safe," Mr Cockburn said.

At $16.50 admission for adults, the Skydeck 88 observation deck offers the same 360 degree views of Melbourne as a $7 million penthouse on the floor below.

Admission to The Edge costs an extra $12 for adults.

Mr Cockburn said Skydeck 88 also boasted a terrace, viewfinders positioned to take in places of interest around Melbourne and sloping floors designed to "play with people's senses".

The $500 million 92-storey Eureka Tower, which was officially opened in October last year, was designed by Fender Katsalidis Pty Ltd and built by Grocon Pty Ltd

[PKI Jizzman]

Sounds freaky! But looks awesome! 880ft in the air in a glass box....

[verticalzero]

That ride is not for me as I would freak out and not feel 100% safe

[gnewton34]

Sorry, but I would not pay that much to just stand in a glass box with music. Actually I wouldn't pay anything to simply stand in a box.

[FLIPDUDE]

I'm sorry, you lost me at "Mr. Cockburn".

[Medusa1861]

Maybe if the glass actually broke i'd pay that much. But the combined total of the box and the deck... Is too much money. Or maybe if they made the glass box like a "robocoaster" That would be fun.. trying not to get hurt.

[ECZenith]

Cockburn... this man sounds like a real thrillseeker!

 

 

What an interesting concept, though. When this opens you Aussies will have to tell us how it is.

[haux]

The one on the Grand Canyon is more impressive.

[Scaparri]

Thanks, but no thanks. Maybe if they paid ME the $16.50.

[snuggles]

Maybe if they made it into a freefall ride I'd go... I'm still waiting for there to be bungee jumping off the stratosphere tower..

[Scaparri]

^I really wish the Strat would have kept that bungee platform they had for the Real World/Road Rules challenge 7 or 8 years ago. I'm sure they would have had to charge a fortune, but I'd shell out the money to jump off a 900 ft tall building.

[Canobie Fan]

Only 880 feet? I layed down on the glass floor on the CN tower! And thats over 1000 feet up

 

lol and I also got the "on floor" photo!

 

[Gav]

Yeah, they had a report on last nights news about that. When the box is extending it reminded me of those sky bridges at airports.

As for the price (About $13.60 in USD) well I'm sure that there will be no shortage of people willing to give it a go, and coupled with the low capacity of the box means there will be long queues for it.

I'll definitely head down later on in the year to check Eureka Tower out, but wether or not I give the edge a go really depends on how busy it is.

[Vekoma Fan Boy]

HELL NO! I would not ride that thing! I could barely handle the little car seats that hung over the edge of the Chuck-E-Cheese play area when I was short enough to go in there. *shudder*

[thrillrideseeker]

I would pee all over myself if I did that. I was freaking out on the elevator in the stratosphere, and it was inclosed!

 

~Matthew *Loves Heights as long as he is strapped into something* Stout

[IceDragon]

Interesting concept, but fairly overpriced. I'd be willing to do it, but brown stuff might be smeared on the floor...

 

 

Yeah, I'd hit it

[gnewton34]

Yeah, they had a report on last nights news about that. When the box is extending it reminded me of those sky bridges at airports.

As for the price (About $13.60 in USD) well I'm sure that there will be no shortage of people willing to give it a go, and coupled with the low capacity of the box means there will be long queues for it.

I'll definitely head down later on in the year to check Eureka Tower out, but wether or not I give the edge a go really depends on how busy it is.

 

You actually have to pay two seperate fees. One to get into the Skydeck and then another price to get in the glass box that extends. So it's going to be a ridiculous total cost of about $23.50 US. No way I'd pay that much. That's about the cost to get into some amusement parks.

[Loco]

Thats sooo awesome, They should make elevators like that.

[rosscoe]

.

 

You actually have to pay two seperate fees. One to get into the Skydeck and then another price to get in the glass box that extends. So it's going to be a ridiculous total cost of about $23.50 US. No way I'd pay that much. That's about the cost to get into some amusement parks.

 

See thats not too bad in payment wise, the problem is our parks are not cheap to get into, some of them in US$ would be more than you guys pay to get into Disneyland.

 

With less than 1/3 of the rides and shows...

[XII]

That would only be fun if you were with someone whos afraid of heights.

[Gav]

If anyone was interested, there is a review and gallery of the attraction here:

http://www.roller-coaster.com.au/article.php?aid=166

[PKI Jizzman]

Is Melborne close to Brisbane? I'll be there in January and maybe I can check this out!

[Gav]

LOL, absolutley not, Melbourne is right down in the south and Brisbane is further north (about halfway up the continent on the east coast)

The distance is about 1700km (1056 miles).But It's worth spending a few days down in Melbourne to see the city, its a 2 hour flight and airline tickets can be gotten cheaply if you fly with Virgin Blue or Jetstar (never really more than $200 AUD)

While you are in Melbourne you could pick up a credit on the worlds oldest continually operating coaster at Luna Park.

 

So I take it you'd be hitting the parks in Brisbane anyway?

 

But back to the topic, yeah the edge is pretty cool, Its actually only $12, not $16 as previously stated, in terms of value it pretty much just feels neutral, you get your $12 worth, nothing more. And I guess if you had already experienced the CN tower it really wouldn't be worth it for you as you'd know what to expect.