Both a dramatic piece of public art and a highly controversial instalations the B-of-the-Bang stands on the corner of  Ashton New Road and Alan Turing Way in the Eastlands area of Manchester.  The British sprinter Linford Christie was the inspiration for this sculpture who once said that he started his races on the B of the bang.  The sculpture created by  Thomas Heatherwick was intended to represent that burst of energy.

The sculpture was commissioned by urban regeneration company New East Manchester Limited to mark the success of the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.  It is made up of a number of hollow spikes and the whole structure is inclined at an angle of 30 degrees from the vertical.  However, if you go to visit the sculpture in its setting in front of the City of Manchester Stadium you will note that  it is surrounded by a safety fence because since it was erected a number of large spikes have fallen off the structure and it is the subject of ongoing legal action between the creator and Manchester City Council.

The B-of-the-Bang stands 184 feet high making it twice the height of the Angel of the North and Britains tallest sculpture.  It cost £1.42 to design and construct and it incorporates 180 hollow spikes supported on 5 angled legs.  The whole structure weighs 165 tonnes and sits on a foundation that goes 65 feet into the ground.