Tourists coming to see a sun-kissed Eiffel Tower were surprised to find a new installation stealing the show.
A 13-metre red tower made of 324 chairs -- a nod to the real tower's height -- has been temporarily set up under the watchful gaze of its big sister to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the landmark.
The city of Paris agreed to host the unusual sculpture next to the monument that inspired it and the CEO of the company behind the installation, Bernard Reybier, said that the father of the real tower -- widely criticised in its day -- would have appreciated the gesture.
“I am convinced that Gustave Eiffel, who said 'iron is the material of ideas', to show the infinite creative potential of this material, would have been pleased with this nod to him.
“He would be happy that 125 years later, his tower, which was so widely criticized, was accepted in the Parisian landscape as a landmark of French identity”, he said.
Reybier's company Fermob -- makers of garden furniture including the green chairs in the Jardin du Luxembourg -- conceived the project to celebrate the tower’s birthday.
Tourists who came to see one of the most recognisable landmarks in the world, were surprised to be seduced by its unexpected little sister.
“It is interesting because it is placed in front of the real one so it makes (a) contrast I think. Together, they make some kind of unit”, Swedish tourist Anders said.
The installation will remain on the Champ de Mars, the public park looking towards the Eiffel Tower, until July 7th and will be transferred later to an as yet undisclosed location in Paris.
