Giant Photo Dominates Jubilee River Thames

Sea Containers celebrates the Diamond Jubilee by displaying the largest ever photograph of the Royal Family

Sea Containers, by Blackfriars Bridge, was covered with the giant picture measuring 100m by 70m and weighing in at nearly two tons. The image was erected by a team of eight people over 45 hours. It is due to remain in place until the end of June.

The 'Sea Containers' building was originally built as a hotel in the mid 1970's but opened instead as offices, taking its name from its long term tenants, the 'Sea Containers', a transport and container leasing business. In spring 2011, planning permission was obtained to convert part the building into the luxury hotel that it was originally intended to be as well as the refurbishment of the remainder of the building as well the construction of a new office building.

The chosen picture is one of the most memorable photographs ever taken of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and their children. It was snapped by an unknown photographer during the Silver Jubilee in 1977.

Jonathan Ofer, managing director of The Deerbrook Group, which asset manages for the owner, Archlane Ltd. explained: "When this Silver Jubilee photo was taken 35 years ago, the South Bank was an unvisited stretch of the Thames - not the centre of business, tourism and culture that it is today.

The enormous canvas serves a dual function as it is also intended to hide redevelopment work taking place inside Sea Containers while the building is being transformed into a luxury Mondrian hotel - the first to open in Europe - and state-of-the-art office space. The work is being carried out by Design Research Studio under the direction of Tom Dixon.