Eiffel Tower
PROJECTS
Paris | France
The Eiffel Tower: the symbol of Paris. With nearly seven million visitors per year, the Eiffel Tower is one of the most visited attractions in the world. Unfortunately, the trees suffered greatly from the ever-increasing number of visitors and Parisians.
Due to the annually increasing layer of gravel, the soil became so compacted that tree growth came to a standstill. The need to secure the area for safety reasons and relocate access points provided an opportunity to improve the growing conditions for these trees.
TreeBuilders collaborated with Vogt Landscape Architects to design the two avenues along the Eiffel Tower to give a boost to the existing trees. That's why they chose the TreeParker® system: it provides the existing trees around this breathtaking World Heritage site with additional growth capacity. Two years after the implementation of TreeParker®, the trees along the Eiffel Tower are in full bloom!
Growth opportunities for existing trees
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The terrorist attacks in Paris have prompted a reevaluation of security measures surrounding the Eiffel Tower. This new security framework has created an opportunity to revive the gardens that once existed beneath the iconic monument. Vogt Landscape Architects and TreeBuilders have collaborated to redesign the two avenues adjacent to the tower, providing the existing trees with enhanced growth opportunities. The TreeParker system was chosen to supply an increased volume of uncompacted soil for the trees surrounding this breathtaking world heritage site.
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The first phase of the project focuses on the left "allee." TreeParker will be implemented at the beginning
and end of these avenues to offer the trees additional uncompacted soil volume, promoting healthier growth following years of stunted development.
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The trampled gardens of the Eiffel Tower
Vogt Landscape Architects were chosen to revitalize the Eiffel Tower's public gardens as part of the security enhancement project. The gardens predate the Eiffel Tower's construction and have undergone various transformations, gradually losing their original design and significance. By the early 20th century, the addition of built elements and fragmented planting obscured the gardens' historical sightlines and disrupted their symmetry. By 2016, when Paris called for new security measures, the gardens were worn and trampled.
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The trees within the gardens also suffered due to the growing number of visitors and locals. A yearly buildup of gravel led to compacted subsoil, which restricted the trees' growth. The need to establish new fencing and alter access points for security purposes provided an opportunity to improve the trees' growth conditions as well.
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Restoring the trees' vitality
At the entry and exit points, the TreeParker system offers a growth volume of 150 m3. Units with a height of 80 cm are utilized to create this volume. Root Directing Panels are employed to guide tree roots into the TreeParker unit, enabling trees to grow and thrive for an extended period. A TreeParker unit is topped with a 40 cm aggregate base course layer and a 15 cm layer of concrete. The trees will become part of the new concrete path that runs along both sides of the monument.
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This project has been managed in partnership with French distributor JardiProtec and is financed by the Eiffel Tower Board. Thanks to the strong collaboration between the Eiffel Tower Board and TreeBuilders, this impressive project has become a reality. We are excited to contribute to such a special project and look forward to the beautiful images the mature trees will provide in the future!
