With the 2012 Olympics being set for London and the city's goverment and citizens are busily preparing for the world to visit and watch.

They are also contemplating buidling a centerpiece for the Olympics in London, and it would look like this:

That bubble-looking "Cloud" would serve as an observation tower as well as a huge 3D informational display. Art & Science. The project would cost millions and if it gets the OK it will reportedly befunded by tons of small donations from citizens. If built, it will be completely "green" relying on solar power, etc for it to function.

The Cloud's architetural team is comprised of writer Umberto Eco, Arup engineers, and others. It is based on artwork by Tomas Saraceno, a German designer who has shown off inflatable sculptures before.

Google is a fan of the project and even has offered to provide the advertising for fundraising ("£1 for 1 pixel" being the catchy phrase) as well as the information technology required to pull it off:

"We could provide a custom feed of...searches made by Londoners during the Olympics to give a real time 'barometer' of the city's interests and mood," Google said.

Some of the Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) bubbles would serve as simply structure. Other 'bubbles' would have LCD to display the information. And some might even be habitable have plants etc to kind of be like 'high rise parks'.

Ramps, stairs and lifts would transport observers to the top of the 400-ft tower after visitors pay an admission charge, the projected admission price has not been mentioned yet.

"The CLOUD proposes an entirely new form of observation deck,connecting visitors to both the whole of London and the whole of the world, immersing them in euphoric gusts of weather and digital data. Each individual footstep on the ascent to the CLOUD participates in a vast collective energy-harvesting effort. Everyone around the world can contribute to the Cloud - whether by visiting or by sponsoring an LED, helping to keep the London lamp aflame."
--Cloud website

Right now it is on the "short list" for the seal of approval from the mayor of London, Boris Johnson.

What do you think? Are you saying "cool!" or "huh?"

To help donate to "Raise the Cloud" or learn more, visit their site here