173. Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower, found in Paris was designed and constructed by Alexander-Gustave Eiffel. It is a Parisian landmark and technological masterpiece in building construction history. When the French Government was organizing centennial exposition of 1889 to commemorate the French revolution, a competition was held for designs for a suitable monument.

More than hundred designs were submitted and the centennial committee accepted that of the noted bridge engineer Gustave Eiffel. Eiffels conception of a 984 foot (300 Meters) tower of open lattice wrought iron aroused amazement, skeptics and no little opposition on aesthetic Grounds. Nothing remotely it was ever built as it was twice as high as the doom of St.Peters church in Rome or the great pyramid of Giza.

In contrast to such older monuments, Eiffel Tower was raised in height in matter of months with a small labor force and a slight cost. Making use of advanced knowledge of behavior of metal arc and metal truss from the under loading, including wind forces and gigantic structure created a revolution in the field of civil engineering and architectural designs of the period and still now. And despite long continuous protest, it ultimately vindicated itself aesthetically.

The towers based of four semi-circular arcs, dictated partly by engineering considerations but also partly by Eiffels artistic sense. It required elevators to ascend on a curve, the glass cage machines designed by the Otis-elevator company of the United States of America became the principle feature of building helping it to establish it as the worlds best area of tourist attraction. Eiffel Tower lasted as the largest and tallest building in the world until the completion of Chrysler building in New York City in the year 1930.