Draft:Skywalk of Gibraltar

INTRODUCTION:

Built in 2018, The Skywalk of Gibraltar represents a blend of historical significance and modern engineering, located a the top of the Rock of Gibraltar. This architecture provides panoramic views, while combining the region's military past with modern design to create a tourist attraction.

CONTENTS

• History of Gibraltar - Military Bases
• Ideation of the Skywallk
• Structure of the Skywalk
• Public's Response

HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR - MILITARY BASES

Recently there has been an interest in changing these sites from military to points of public interest. One of these transformations is the Skywalk itself. Gibraltar has long been known for its strategic geographical location - the gateway between the Mediterranean Sea and he Atlantic Ocean. This geography has resulted in a dense military history. Over the centuries, Gibraltar has accumulated numerous bases and fortifications that have been established over the centuries. The Skywalk is situated on top of an anti-aircraft base that was used during the World War II. This Fortress was used during the war to control all the naval traffic coming in and out of the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean.

IDEATION OF THE SKYWALK

The conception of the Skywalk was driven by a desire to repurpose a historical military site into a tourist spot. The ideation process focused on the visitor's experiences while preserving the site's past. The initiative aimed to create a blend of natural and engineered elements. This provided a unique point at the Rock's heritage and the region's history.

Tourism:

One of the ways nations and countries preserve history and heritage sites is by creating these locations into tourist sites. Gibraltar has done this with several sites throughout the rock which include: the Great Siege Tunnels, Saint Michael's Cave, World War II Tunnels, Moorish Castle, and many more. The Skywalk is no exception to this rule.

STRUCTURE OF THE SKYWALK

The structure of the Skywalk includes a glass walkway composed of 42 glass panels, covering an area exceeding 750 square meters and suspended 340 meters above sea level. The project, led by Gibraltar-based firm Arc Designs, repurposed the former WWII anti-aircraft platform. It supports significant weight, equivalent to five elephants or eleven Range Rovers, with a total glass weight of 330 tons. It was also designed to withstand winds as strong as 150 km per hour. Brightly coloured plastic snakes were temporarily added to deter monkeys from the site, although this is considered a provisional measure.

Delayed opening of the Site

The opening of the Skywalk was delayed due to initial manufacturing issues with the glass panels, which were subsequently rectified by the supplier. There was not a concern in the safety of the structure but the glass panels were not sealed fast enough and when water-seeped in between the glass layers a cloudy effect occurred. The Manufacturer and supplier took responsibility and quickly fixed this mistake.

Additionally, the site is located nearby the sanctuary of the Macaques (the monkeys of Gibraltar) and so when it came to spring time they reduced/delayed operations to reduce the impact on the breeding period of the macaques and birds. This resulted in a further delay in the opening of the site.

In 2020, the Skywalk was closed for repairs from June 29th till July 8th due to safety concerns of the structure. This concern occurred when there was crack in one of layers of the glass panels due to a tourist dropping a heavy item on the panel.

PUBLIC'S RESPONSE

The Skywalk has received positive feedback from both locals and tourists, establishing it as a key attraction in Gibraltar. Its impact on tourism has been profound, drawing visitors from around the globe and boosting the local economy. Acclaimed for its design and the unique experience it offers, the Skywalk has also enjoyed coverage in major media outlets and design platforms.

Mark Hamill Opening the Attraction

The Skywalk attraction became particularly popular after the original Luke Skywalker, Mark Hamill, came to open the attraction with two stormtroopers. The actor used a light saber to cut the red red ribbon (symbolically).