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| Eiffel Tower (1889) Gustave Eiffel |
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| Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao (1997) Frank Gehry |
The importance of the design and construction
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| Construction of the Eiffel Tower (1887-1889) |
EIFFEL TOWER
The Eiffel Tower was designed by Alexandre Eiffel. It's construction started in 1887 and finished 3 years later in 1889.
The design for the Eiffel tower was first randomly selected from over 700 design proposals in a competition to have a monument built for the International Exhibition of Paris of 1889 commemorating the centenary of the French Revolution. It was completely rejected at first. A petition of around 300 names were signed in defiance of its construction. But in the end, the protest against the design did not at all disrupt the development of the now world famous, Eiffel tower.
During it's construction, many people were awed by the sheer size and shape of the tower. Engineers criticized the design of the Eiffel tower, stating that it was more of an artistic (or anti-artistic) creation, with no attention spared on the science and balance of how it would withstand wind forces. It was uncovered by researchers that the construction of the Eiffel was carefully and accurately planned using empirical and graphical methods, taking into account the effects of wind. The lower heavier section of the Eiffel is designed to fully withstand friction against wind, while the top area is slightly less wind resistant yet sways only a mere 6-7cm in most strong wind.
The Eiffel was painted in order to look aesthetically pleasing from head to toe, especially from a low angle. To be consistent in uniform appearance to a spectator on the ground, three separate colors of paint are used on the tower. The darkest colors are applied at the bottom and the lightest are at the top.
GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM
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| Construction of Guggenheim Museum |
The Guggenheim Museum depends on the irregular curvature on it's exterior for aesthetic appeal. Gehry quote, "The randomness of the curves are designed to catch the light."
Gehry's works mainly consist of sculptures which incorporate random and naturist contours borrowed from animals. the Guggenheim is was designed with the intention to make it resemble a ship as Bilbao is a port town where the Nervion river runs through the busy city. The combination of glass, titanium and limestone give off a shiny glistening appearance. To me, it looks a bit like the scales of a lizard or fish. I think the curves may also resemble the gentle ripples which the river emits. In my opinion, it is visually majestic and elegant yet modest enough as it does not overshadow the traditional settings of the town.
The significance of materials
EIFFEL TOWER
The Eiffel was constructed using metal that was extracted from an ore - Pig Iron. Around three hundred builders were hired to fuse together a total of 18,038 pieces of pig iron. The metal was chosen for it's ductility and ability to maintain shape and strength well compared to other metals. Due to heat and cold, the metal expands and contracts according to the weather conditions, but consistently maintains the delicate form of the Eiffel. The most that the metal will contract or expand with extreme weather is known to be as small as 16cm.
GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM
The Guggenheim Museum is heavily constructed with titanium which is half a millimeter thick. Gehry experimented with 29 different types of materials before finally choosing to use titanium as the support material. Glass and limestone provide aesthetic and foundation quality, maybe not so much glass as it is quite fragile compared to the limestone which is both strong and displays natural patterns forged within it, contrasting with the smooth surfaces of the glass and titanium.
Significance of the designer
ALEXANDRE GUSTAVE EIFFEL
Alexandre Gustave Eiffel was a French structural engineer, an architect, an entrepreneur and a specialist of metallic structures. I think that, as well as with the success of the Eiffel tower, Eiffel made a very big impact in the world of design. When designing a construction, many people strayed away from seemingly impossible designs, staying with simple and "do able" ideas. His idea for the tower was criticized, ridiculed and parodied many times yet he still held fast to the idea of constructing it. In a way, he achieved the impossible with his team of engineers.
FRANK GEHRY
Frank Gehry is one of the most renown architects in the world. His works of contemporary architecture portray emotion and create immediate reaction from observers. His significance in the architecture is defined purely by his imagination and creativity. Many of his designs appear dream like, they push the boundaries of the traditional architectural world. Of course, this all comes from many sessions of experimentation with materials and sketches for such amazing pieces of work.
Function for which each was built
EIFFEL TOWER
Originally, it was built as a thematic monument for the World Exhibition (L'Exhibition Universelle) which was held in 1889 for the celebration of the French Revolution in 1789. The plan was to have the tower dismantled and put away after the celebration, but was surprisingly allowed to remain in its spot where it is situated today - Champ de Mars, Paris.
From the very beginning, the Guggenheim Museum was designed for a purpose, to showcase and display the best of Spanish and international artists from around the world.
In a way, the modern style of the museum - the modernity supposedly helps young aspiring artists realize through the basic rules of design and construction the processes of design you must go through, which is shown in the construction of the museum itself.
Basically, it is a visual form of inspiration.
Function now - how has it changed?
EIFFEL TOWER
Compared to the thematic value which the Eiffel tower held during the World Exhibition, the Eiffel tower today is now a huge tourist attraction. More than 200,000,000 people have visited the tower since it opened to the public in 1889. It serves as a monument and icon of Paris as well, and is illuminated at night, giving Paris the name - The City of Light. It also serves as a transmission receiver, exchanging wireless signals from the United States Naval Observatory. It has also become the most romantic place for couples (sigh) the reason being, the immense height of the tower causes the suspension bridge effect to take place, where the fear of the height (when your heart starts to beat very fast) is mistaken for the feel of love instead.
GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM
The Guggenheim Museum has not changed much in looks nor purpose throughout the years. If anything, it has gained more popularity and interest from around the world and today still serves as a magnificent piece of architectural art, visually pleasing on the outside and inside with its showcase of innovative works of art.
First off, the Eiffel tower and Guggenheim Museum are both amazing pieces of architectural art. They have both created impact within the society in which they were constructed, good and bad. The Eiffel tower was scrutinized while the Guggenheim received praise and love for its flawless design. This shows development in peoples perception of good and bad design. For design to be good, during the 1800s, it was to be symmetrical, normal and have visible function. I think that the fear of not conforming with everyone else was what caused many of the viewers to hurl insults towards the Eiffel. It would be a burden to the french if the rest of the world saw what they thought was a total monstrosity of art. But really, they were simply afraid of stepping out of the norm. If the Guggenheim Museum was erected during the time of the Eiffel with it's titanium finish and limestone foundation, how would have people reacted? Would it have been as hated as the Eiffel? I believe it may have been, due to it's random arrangement of curves which is admired today by many designers alike.
Both structures required precise and complex calculations and theories construct them to the very detail in each sketch. The Guggenheim was experimented and trialed whereas with the World Exhibition coming up, the Eiffel was commenced to begin building almost immediately. The sites in which the structures are located correspond to the elements and design of the monuments. Champ de Mars, known for the soft trimmed grass and fashionable locals who visit to take a rest under the warm sun during summers, contrasts greatly against the powerful yet delicate outline of the dark Eiffel. They contrast but harmonize greatly together. The museum does not entirely contrast with its surroundings like the Eiffel but relates with the river which it resides by and the calm, quite lax atmosphere of the port town of Bilbao.
Differences aside, I think the greatest similarity that these two structures share is the significance in the development of art which they share. The groundbreaking innovation of their designs also led their designers to become much more well known and respected.
Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (2011)
http://en.structurae.de/persons/data/index.cfm?id=d000009
Biographie de Gustave Eiffel: Homme d'affaire, l'industriel et ingenieur (2007)
http://www.jesuismort.com/biographie_celebrite_chercher/biographie-gustave_eiffel-1296.php
Tour Eiffel - A bit of history (updated 2011)
http://www.parispages.com/Monuments/Eiffel/
Frank Gehry
http://www.greatbuildings.com/architects/Frank_Gehry.html
Times Topics, Frank Gehry (2009)
http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/g/frank_gehry/index.html
Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao (2006)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxVgz3np7AM
The opening of Guggenheim Museum
http://www.bm30.es/homegug_uk.html
