'Huge green tree' between Paris

The Eiffel Tower is being planned to become an ecological symbol of the French capital.

The story of the Eiffel Tower changes color is not strange to Parisians. In 2004, the Eiffel Tower was lit with red lights on the Lunar New Year to mark the diplomatic year with China. In 2008, during the 6 months of France taking over the President of the European Union, each evening the Eiffel Tower wore its traditional blue blue EU. This time, according to Le Figaro newspaper, 2 corporations Ginger, Vinci and architect Claude Bucher are planning projects to green the entire surface of this famous tourist spot in the next 4 years. Ginger specializes in designing 'green' blueprints and has previously been selected by the Eiffel Tower Exploitation Authority (Sete) as a partner for the 1st floor reconstruction project, starting in 2012.

Perspective of the 'Green Eiffel' project - (Photo: Ginger)

If approved by the City Hall of Paris, Sete and the Ministry of Environment, from June 2012, 600,000 trees will be 'laminated' outside, turning this building into a 'giant green' higher than 300m. The budget of about 72 million euros is paid by many leading French corporations to affirm 'support for the goal of sustainable development'.

Ginger's engineers have been preparing for two years to assess technical difficulties such as calculating plant weights so as not to affect the tower's construction structure, choosing the right plant for those Different heights and able to withstand strong winds. Miniaturized copy of the building has been tested in a suburb of Paris. In addition, a group of interdisciplinary scientists are collaborating to evaluate the ecological values ​​of 'Green Eiffel'. As expected, the greening of the Eiffel Tower will be divided into several stages: cultivating the necessary number of plants from now until June 2012, then lining up the tower until January 2013. The number of trees will continue to grow in about a year, reaching the 'peak of flavor' in 2 years 2014, 2015 and starting to be taken down from February 2016.

All of these trees will be grown in jute bags containing bio-soil attached to ropes fixed to the metal frame of the Eiffel Tower. Daily irrigation will be due to a 12-ton rubber pipe system. To ensure aesthetics, the installation of trees on the tower will be done so that from the outside look and feel like natural 'growing' patches of plants from low to high.

Ginger's founder, Jean-Luc Schnoebelen, said the project would make the Eiffel Tower a 'symbol of Paris 's action for sustainable development and lungs'.