Marvels of the World #1

Hi guys, today I wanted to dive deeper into the backstory of famous architectural masterpieces that changed the world, and today I am going to be starting with the Eiffel Tower.

There is one main thing that people think about when asked to visualize what they imagine about Paris, and that thing is the Eiffel Tower. The truth, though, is most folks do not know that when Eiffel initially designed the Eiffel Tower, he did not plan on it being the focal point of Paris. The Eiffel Tower was designed to be the centrepiece of the 1889 Exposition Universelle, which celebrated one hundred years of the French Revolution. The Eiffel Tower was built by engineer Gustave Eiffel and his team to make a bold statement to the world about the future of engineering and what engineering advancements would allow for iron construction. Over 300 metres tall, the Eiffel Tower pushed construction limits at the time, demonstrating to the world that France had future industrial ambitions.

To most people’s surprise, when the Eiffel Tower was first proposed, most Parisians did not like it. Many of Paris’s most reputable artists and authors attacked the design of the building, stating the massive iron structure would detract from the majesty of the existing architecture of the city. The newspaper published articles of discontent, and various petitions were signed to prevent construction of the Eiffel Tower. Nevertheless, Eiffel was still confident in his vision, asserting that eventually everyone would see how innovative and amazing the design was. Construction continued, and after just over two years, the building became the skyline, a technological marvel never before seen on Earth.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the Eiffel Tower is the fact that it was originally designed to be temporary in nature. After the completion of the World Exposition, it was to be taken down within twenty years of its construction. Luckily, its usefulness in scientific experimentation and broadcasting prevented this from happening, and eventually turned it into an iconic part of Paris. The tower, which at one time was despised by many Parisians, transformed into a landmark that represents the entire city. Ultimately, what began as an architectural controversy ended up becoming an engineering masterpiece.

I will be increasing the frequency of my blogs to every Wednesday and Saturday!

Taneesh Ainumpudi

Blog #12