Eiffel Tower To Be Turned Into Tallest Tree in the World?
Proposed Installation will cover Paris's landmark with 600,000 plants
The City Council of Paris is holding a press conference December 1st to decide whether it will approve the installation of 600,000 plants on the Eiffel Tower, a project that would require 12 tons of rubber tubing for irrigation, add 378 tons of weight to the tower and create a 1,000 plus foot iconic "tree" that can be seen across the city of Paris. Whether an elaborate hoax perpetrated by an overly ambitious gardener or a brilliant idea that will set the stage for eco-awareness in other countries, the project is symbolic of the need for human ingenuity in becoming more sustainable.
According to Le Figaro, one of France's largest national newspapers, "The designers behind this technological feat claim it will be a societal model, emblematic of all of the ecological, economic, human and cultural values of the Third millennium." Scientists would monitor plant performance and estimate that the Eiffel Tower will give off 84.2 tons of CO2 and absorb 87.8 tons as a result of the 600,000 plants in the installment (in addition to the 600 trees that already grace the area surrounding the tower).
This larger than life experiment would not only offset carbon, its creation would make a statement about France's commitment to sustainable development. Though whether or not the Eiffel Tower installation takes root, it isn't the only project of its kind to be inspired by the need for inventiveness and greater environmental awareness. If you remember, last year the Plastiki set sail to raise awareness about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. A vertical garden was incorporated into the boat made of 12,000 re-purposed plastic bottles and provided the six-person crew with fresh greens along their long voyage (video below).
Installation of the plants onto the Eiffel Tower would begin in June 2012, with the plants cultivated in nurseries until needed. Experts would expect to work day and night, using climbing ropes to ascend the Eiffel Tower and attach burlap pouches in which the plants will grow. Concerns have been raised about the extra weight that the plants will add to the tower (I don't think anyone wants to find out what happens when it rains plants). To ensure the stability of the structure, a model was created in a Parisian suburb and the final test is set for Dec. 7.
Tourists and locals alike will be glad to know that the LED lights that set the tower aglow every night would still be visible, incorporated into the plants' support ropes and broadcasting the installation's message across Paris both day and night. And who knows, if the project is approved, it could set the stage for similar eco-awareness projects around the world. Could the Statue of Liberty be next?
Video of the making of the Plastiki Garden, part of
YourGardenShow's video series on immaginative gardens:
Video by YourGardenShow.com, copyright 2011
- Categories // : Garden Stories, November 2011
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