At approximately three hundred meters tall, the Eiffel Tower stands as an iconic symbol of the City of Paris in France, but also as one of the most famous monuments. At the time of its construction, Gustave’s Eiffel Tower was the tallest tower on the planet and despite the fact that it has been overshadowed in terms of height by the various imitations that it inspired over the years, the Eiffel Tower’s design is, nonetheless, unlike no other. Even though it seems like a perfect fit, at one time, critics wondered why a monstrous iron edifice had to be built in the middle of Paris. However, such a thought was factored into the very aspects of the tower’s design; with the designers catering for all issues pertaining to the strength, beauty, durability and the magnificence of the humongous iron structure.
- Origin
The Eiffel Tower’s design was produced by Emile Nouguier and Maurice Koechlin; both were employees of the “Compagnie des Établissements Eiffel”. They came up with that specific design following a discussion on what they would present as a suitable showpiece for what would mark the centennial celebration of the French Revolution and the 1889 world’s fair in Paris. The tower’s design was actually inspired by the Latting Observatory, which was built in 1853 in New York City. Stephen Sauvestre also contributed to the design by adding various embellishments to the design, such as decorative arches and a glass pavilion. At that stage, Gustave Eiffel stepped in and bought the design’s patent from the three designers. With the terms of the open competition for a centerpiece being announced, Eiffel entered his design. However, the rules of the competition were changed. The centerpiece was required to provide a study of a four-sided metal structure with approximately a height of 980 feet. This basically ensured that Eiffel’s design would be selected. As expected, his design was later approved as the most detailed and most practical.
- Design Aspects
The original design conceived by Nouguier and Koechlin in 1884 was that of a large pylon with a four-column base. The columns, which had latticework girders, would be joined at the top and separated at the base. The design included more metal girders joining the columns at various intervals. Eiffel’s company had already perfected the principle of constructing bridge supports, so they made the bold step of taking that principle further through the tower project by taking it to a height of 1000 feet. In the same year on the 18th of September, Eiffel registered a patent that would allow the construction of pylons and metal supports capable of exceeding 300 meters in height. At this particular stage, the design was more structural rather than aesthetic. Keeping in mind the aspect of aesthetics and the perception of the public, Sauvestre – an architect by profession – set out to work on the appearance of the project. He proposed that the legs of the tower be dressed by stonework pedestals; the first level and the columns be linked by monumental arches, and the entire structure be decorated with various ornamental features. The project’s design, though a bit complex at its initial stage, was eventually simplified. Nevertheless, certain key features, like the large arches at the foot of the tower were retained. The process was followed in the course of these transactions involving the creation and commissioning of the statue.
Despite the major changes made to the project to enhance the tower’s appearance, various critics, who saw the edifice as a hideous metal structure rather than a work of art, challenged the design. With Charles Garnier – a top architect – as their leader, some of the prominent personalities in art at the time published a manifesto in protest. In the manifesto, Garnier and his colleagues vehemently expressed their disapproval of the project as they felt that it would be a disgrace to the culture of the city and the arts in general. In response to the critics, Eiffel made a comparison between the tower and the pyramids of Egypt. In his comparison, he made the argument that huge moments have always been objects of great fascination ever since and that the tower’s monstrous height merely added to its beauty and magnificence. He went further to clarify the fact that it was not practical for the people to admire the pyramids in Egypt due to their magnificence yet hate the tower in France for its massive size. In his letter, Eiffel states that the very form of the structure creates the impression of strength and beauty; and that despite the mechanical appearance, every feature of the tower adds to its own aesthetic appeal.
The question of its appeal was not the only doubt cast upon the Eiffel Tower’s design; its structural stability was also called into question. The tower’s daring form came as a shock to many, mostly because it was the first of its kind. As a result, some claimed that Eiffel’s design was merely artistic and that it was created with no regards to engineering principles. Even so, Eiffel and his colleagues knew that for the tower to be erected, they had to ascertain that it could withstand wind forces. Instead of using a mathematical formula, Eiffel relied on empirical evidence to work out the wind effects and graphical methods to verify the tower’s strength. In designing the tower, his principal concern was wind resistance. He hence laid extra emphasis on the design work so that it would ensure utmost resistance to wind forces. It has been noted that the wind causes the tower to sway by approximately 3.5 inches.
- Construction and Materials
The work leading up to the erection of the edifice involved 50 designers and engineers who drew 5,300 drawings, more than 100 workers who built approximately 19,000 different parts at the workshop and a further 132 men who were involved in assembling the parts at the site. The men worked on the foundation for 5 months, starting from the 26th of January, 1887. When it came to building the pillars, the two that are on the Seine River side required more effort. The workers had to go five meters under water to build an air-compressed foundation. Upon building the foundation, the feet of the tower were then set in the four individual pillars. When it came to assembling the first floor, the difficulty lay in making sure the four pillars met at the first floor. As such, they had to slant. The engineers worked out the problem by moving each foot using hydraulic jacks and an original scaffolding system.
The second floor of the tower was assembled with the aid of cranes that were mounted on the tower. The metal parts were built away from the site and then bound together with thermally assembled rivets that ensured a tight fit. This kind of assembling was a new technology at the time and it ensured that the mounting was done with remarkable precision. Assembling the tour to full height took a further 21 months; a record speed considering the technology available during that era. Officially, the construction was finished on the 31st of March, 1889.
However, the role of transportation in any construction or building project is crucial, especially since the materials were heavy. Transportation ensures that materials get to the construction site at the right time in readiness for use. The relationship between the environment and transportation is considered ironic because of it helps generate social and economic benefit while influencing the environment in different ways. There was a high demand for transportation of construction material from the source to the site where the Eiffel towers was experiencing construction. At the same time, the world was also experiencing an increase in environmental degradation. In fact, transportation is among the leading sources of emission that is to blame for global heating and climate change.
The emission generated because of transportation activities have experienced an increase in both personal and cargo movement to and from the site. This means that transportation played an enhanced role in the emission of carbon and its varied impacts on the environment. The three main areas of environmental influences that occurred because of transportation activities in the building of the Eiffel Towers include direct, indirect and cumulative impacts. The work carried out at the Eiffel towers was intense and workers were subjected to rigorous conditions. Over 50 designers and 132 men were involved in the development of the tower for a period of five months at the foundation alone. The construction of the pillar required a significant amount of work especially on the Seine riverside. The working conditions were a bit tough since workers had to go deep five meters under water to construct the foundation, which is air, compressed. There was also significant difficulty in ensuring that the pillars converged at a single point.
In terms of the material used, Eiffel chose iron purposefully due to its benefits for the kind of structure that he aimed to build. In using iron as a material, Eiffel considered the fact that it had more resistance than wood or stone, especially when it comes to large structures. Furthermore, the materials lightness would ensure that the construction would not require a bigger foundation or support. The design of this tower qualifies as a sustainable model. This is because it was made fully from metal that was sourced locally. Metal is environmentally friendly due to the lack of the lack of emissions that are associated with it. Similarly, there is no risk of corrosion, which will pollute the rivers or the soil. Pollution of the soil and water resources is a dangerous occurrence because it will endanger the health of people living in the community due to the harmful effects that metals have on the human body. All these factors played a crucial part in the choice of using metal for constructing the tower. Eiffel’s choice of iron for the tower did not only ensure that the 300-meter-tall tower would stand, but it has also resulted in the longterm durability of the tower more than 100 years after it was constructed. The iron used by Eiffel is known as puddle iron. Known for its resilience, the iron is able to withstand fatigue and corrosion, and readily accepts protective coating. The use of that specific material coupled with the ingenuity of the design and construction may yet ensure that the Eiffel Tower outlasts many generations to come. Ecological conditions are also important to consider. The Eiffel Tower did not alter the ecological setting of the primary location point where it was situated in Paris. It has allowed the continued existence of the natural environment and ecosystems without incorporating massive changes that were detrimental to the community.
- Conclusion
The thought that the Eiffel Tower is merely a monstrous piece of metal crafted without thought or purpose is certainly misplaced. As is detailed by Gustave’s letter to the critics, the tower indeed possesses its own unique appeal. Furthermore, all features of the structure seemed to have been thoroughly conceived through a meticulous thought process that ensured the design, construction and material chosen would enhance the beauty, strength, durability and magnificence of what has come to be such an icon both in its home city and the world at large. The design of the Eiffel Tower indicates that it is not just another metallic horror, but a masterpiece as far as design is concerned.
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