Official opening of the totally refurbish 1st floor of the Eiffel Tower

The most ambitious Eiffel Tower refurbishment project for nearly 30 years. The total refurbishment of the first floor to create a rest and relaxation space for visitors was therefore a long-awaited pleasure.

hThe Eiffel Tower first floor refurbishment

The most ambitious Eiffel Tower refurbishment project for nearly 30 years. The total refurbishment of the first floor to create a rest and relaxation space for visitors was therefore a long-awaited pleasure.

In addition to upgrades for all its facilities, the first floor is now one of the most spectacular and attractive places in Paris, with an inclined and transparent architectural design, a spectacular spatial experience, and an informative interactive pathway charting the history of the Tower.

 

A fully accessible level

The Eiffel Tower first floor refurbishment project sets a new standard when it comes to public accessibility: all obstacles were either removed or clearly signed, lighting was changed, and floors were given anti-slip surfaces. The pavilions now have lifts, and a ramp connects the outer gallery with the Champ-de-Mars terrace. The museography has also been adapted to allow sight-impaired visitors to enjoy the experience.

 

An exemplary sustainable development project

Although there is no 'High Quality Environmental' benchmark for the Eiffel Tower, one of the major goals of the project to refurbish its first floor was to achieve a significant reduction in its ecological footprint as part of the City of Paris Climate Plan.

The position of its glazing has been redesigned without in any way compromising the comfort of visitors as they take in the stunning panoramic views from the first floor of the Tower: this new level of sun protection reduces summer solar heat gain by more than 25%, thereby reducing the energy bill for air conditioning. The fact that almost all the lighting on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower has been converted to LED will boost power savings even further.

The Ferrié Pavilion now has 10 m² of roof-mounted solar panels, whose output will meet approximately 50% of the water heating needs of the two pavilions. The Pavilion has also gained a rainwater recovery system that provides flushing water to the toilet facilities. This system also reduces the amount of energy needed to power the booster pumps used to pump water to the higher levels of the tower.

High-performance heat pumps have also been installed in the pavilions to ensure a constantly balanced temperature.

Lastly, two wind generators with an annual generating capacity of 10,000 kWh are also in the process of being installed on the second floor.

 

A spectacular spatial experience

The second and third floors of the Eiffel Tower may belong to the sky, but the first floor belongs to the city. Its transparent floor and new glass balustrading offer visitors a totally unique and spectacular spatial experience. The new anti-slip finish incorporates a progressive grading of transparency from the interior to the central void, which is 1.85 metres at its widest

The after-dark lighting scheme is consistent with the traditional image of the Eiffel Tower. The majority of this lighting uses warm colours and is focused discretely downwards towards the ground. In the central square, the light comes from the pavilions themselves and the balustrading

 

New pavilions

Two pavilions have been entirely rebuilt. Technical analyses established that it would be better to rebuild the pavilions entirely than simply to refurbish them.  The 58 Tour Eiffel restaurant gains entirely new facades to maintain consistency with the refurbished first floor.

The Eiffel Pavilion contains a meeting and conference room entirely redesigned and rebuilt to provide one of the most attractive events spaces in Paris.

A number of pavilion configurations are possible: 200 guests seated or 300 standing, making the space perfect for conferences, receptions and cocktail parties in a unique setting.

The Ferrié Pavilion features a shop and restaurant on its lower level, and relaxation and viewing areas on its upper level.

Inside the Ferrié Pavilion, the restaurant and shop spaces have been entirely redesigned and refitted for greater visitor comfort and convenience. Rest and relaxation spaces have been created, and the views over Paris have been maximised by the introduction of more extensive glazing and the connection of spaces

On the upper level of the Ferrié Pavilion, an immersive multimedia show using 7 projectors and 3 screens takes visitors deep into the three worlds of the Eiffel Tower: extraordinary contemporary architecture at the heart of the City of Light.

 

A museography pathway through the history of the Eiffel Tower

The cultural pathway takes visitors around the first floor in the open air via a series of kiosks, showcases, information screens, touch screens, digital albums and bookstalls structured around two key themes: the work of Gustave Eiffel and the Tower as a symbol of a modernising world.

It presents the Eiffel Tower to visitors as an art icon. Information on the life and work of Gustave Eiffel is presented in French and English, accompanied by his family album, the history of the Tower's construction and subsequent evolution, and photographs of those who work every day to keep the legend alive.

The Ferrié Pavilion features reproductions of items from the Eiffel Tower collection presented in updated surroundings.