In order to make the area around the Eiffel Tower more attractive and more accessible to visitors, the Paris City Council has approved a major renovation project for its most famous and most visited structure in anticipation of the 2024 Olympic Games. The main goals included better control of visitor flows and protection of the centrally located square under the landmark.
A bullet-proof glass wall was erected along the traffic axes without impairing the historical line of sight. In the places where the Eiffel Tower adjoins gardens, the wall consists of a metal fence made of Corten steel.
The 72 mm thick glass construction is recessed in the base and leaves the upper edge untouched to ensure an unobstructed view of the Eiffel Tower. The glass elements had to undergo special ballistic tests beforehand.
The fence, also known as the “Eiffel”, consists of thin steel sheets that replicate the silhouette of the Eiffel Tower.
The site remained open during the entire renovation work. The large influx of tourists, the special location in the centre of Paris, the complexity and inaccurate documentation of the underground pipeline network were challenges that had to be taken into account in the design and site planning.
