The Spinnaker Tower
The Spinnaker Tower, which stands at 170 metres high, sits beside Gunwharf Quays as the centrepiece of the Millennium Project for the Renaissance of Portsmouth Harbour in England. It is the centrepiece of the redevelopment of Portsmouth Harbour, which was supported by a National Lottery grant. Its shape was chosen by Portsmouth residents from a selection of concepts. The tower, designed by local firm HGP Architects and the engineering consultants Scott Wilson and built by Mowlem, reflects Portsmouth’s maritime history by being modeled after a sail. After several years of delays and cost overruns, it was opened on 18 October 2005.
Portsmouth Harbour is a large natural harbour in Hampshire, England. Geographically it is a ria. The city of Portsmouth lies to the east on Portsea Island, and Gosport to the west on the mainland. At its north end is Portchester Castle, of Roman origin and the first fortress built to protect the harbour.
The mouth of the harbour provides access to the Solent. It is best known as the home of the Royal Navy, HMNB Portsmouth. Because of its strategic location on the south coast of England, protected by the natural defence of the Isle of Wight, it has since the Middle Ages been the home to England’s (and later Britain’s) navy. The narrow entrance, and the forts surrounding it gave it a considerable advantage of being virtually impregnable to attack from the sea. However, by use of subterfuge of sailing into the harbour with English flags, the French burned Portsmouth in the 1338.
In modern times, the harbour has become a major commercial ferry port, with regular services to Le Havre, Cherbourg, St Malo, France, The Channel Islands and the Isle of Wight. There is a passenger ferry to Gosport. It is also a major area for leisure sailing. Recently, a large area of the former naval dockyard has been redeveloped into the Gunwharf Quays development, including the Spinnaker Tower.
Portsmouth sees a number of people passing through each year, travelling to and from France and other continental locations. The port is extremely busy and passenger ferries to various destinations across Europe, notably France and Spain leave regularly.