Name : Marco Leong Wong Ka Henn

Id : 0320026

Module : English 1

[Session] August, 2014

Question Number : 2

Pre-writing

Comparison between Eiffel Tower and Tokyo Tower

Eiffel Tower

• Paris

• Symbol of paris

• 324 meters

• 7000 tons

• Designed by Gustave Eiffel

• Erected in 1889

• more popular than Tokyo Tower

• bronze(colour)

• Wind resistance

• material: Iron

• in 2012 there were 6million visitors(most-visited paid monument in the world)

• Uses:tourist attraction,radio transmissions and observatory purposes.

Tokyo Tower

• Tokyo

• Symbol of Tokyo

• 333 meters

• 4000 tons

• Designed by Tachu NaitoEiffel Tower-inspired lattice tower

• Erected in 1958

• less popular than Eiffel Tower

• white and international orange(colour)

• withstand earthquakes, typhoons and hurricanes.

• material:steel

• 3 million visitors per year

• Uses:antenna leasing and tourism

Comparison between Eiffel Tower and Tokyo Tower

I was asked to compare two existing buildings so I chose the buildings that look

similar but mostly difference which are Eiffel Tower that is the symbol of Paris and

Tokyo Tower that is the symbol of Tokyo. I found out there are some kinds of interesting

information in these buildings I compiled a breakdown on each building to better

understand the techniques and materials used, then went on to compare the layout and

the history background and function. In this essay, you will know the differences

between these two buildings.

In fact, Eiffel Tower was erected in 1889 and located in Paris. It was designed by

Gustave Eiffel and that’s why this tower is called Eiffel Tower. Next, Tokyo Tower was

built in 1958 and situated in Tokyo. The designer of this tower is Tachu Naito and his

design idea is inspired by Eiffel Tower. In fact, Eiffel Tower attracted more visitors which

has 6 millions visitors in 2012 compare to Tokyo Tower which has 3 millions visitors

only.

First, there are many differences between Eiffel Tower and Tokyo Tower. The

layout of these two buildings are different. The material of building Eiffel Tower is iron

but Tokyo Tower is made by steel. And, the two buildings’ color are not same. Eiffel

Tower is bronze in color and Tokyo Tower are white and orange in color. Also, Tokyo

Tower is lighter than Eiffel Tower due to their materials used. Specifically, Eiffel Tower’s

weight is 7000 tons and Tokyo Tower’s weight is 4000 tons only. Eiffel Tower’s height is

324 meters and Tokyo Tower’s height is 333 meters which means Tokyo Tower is

slightly higher than Eiffel Tower. The results that I have seen from google maps of these

two buildings, it can be seen that Eiffel Tower and Tokyo Tower‘s designs are sharp at

top to wide at bottom. Also, Eiffel Tower’s legs are square seen at google maps and

Tokyo Tower’s legs are sharp seen at google maps.

Second, another difference of Eiffel Tower and Tokyo Tower is their history

background. Actually the design of Eiffel Tower was only built to last 20 years but the

designer of Eiffel Tower dedicated his time on operating Eiffel Tower so that Eiffel

Tower is still standing until now. In my research, I found that the designer of Tokyo

Tower is the father of earthquake-proof so that Tokyo Tower is an earthquake-proof

building. In fact, France has the highest rates of suicide and the rates of people suicide

by jumping down from Eiffel Tower is very high. They chose there to suicide because of

they want the most romantic way to suicide. In opposite, there are no people suicide at

Tokyo Tower.

Furthermore, the function of Eiffel Tower and Tokyo Tower are different. Tokyo

Tower has more anti-disasters function compares to Eiffel Tower. Tokyo Tower can

withstand during earthquakes, typhoons and hurricanes but Eiffel Tower has only wind

resistance. The reason of why Eiffel Tower doesn’t have disasters-proof because of

France doesn’t have those serious disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, hurricanes

and others. Nowadays, the uses of Eiffel Tower are for tourist attraction, radio

transmissions and observatory purposes and of Tokyo Tower are for antenna leasing

and tourism. There is a main conservatory at 150m of Tokyo Tower, it commands a

360-degree view of Kanto Region surrounding Tokyo. At 250m of the building, there is a

special conservatory that you can see as far as Mt. Fuji and Mt. Tsukuba in Tokyo. At

night, you can enjoy the brilliant city’s night view at there. At the top of Tokyo Tower, it

has a lighting rod, obstruction light and a vane anemometer. Eiffel Tower ‘s passengers

lifts took around 8minutes and 50seconds for the whole trip, you can enjoy the view of

Paris. In comparison, Tokyo Tower has more function .

In Conclusion, Eiffel Tower and Tokyo Tower are different due the layouts,

history background and the function. I would like to say that I was attracted by Eiffel

Tower because of it’s Nostalgia.

(672 words)

References

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Chanson, Hubert (2009). Hydraulic Engineering Legends Listed on the Eiffel

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History Symposium of the World Environmental and Water Resources Congress

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7844-1032-5)

Frémy, Dominique, Quid de la Tour Eiffel, Robert Lafont, Paris (1989) – out of

print

The Engineer: The Paris Exhibition, 3 May 1889 (Vol. XLVII). London: Office for

Advertisements and Publication.

Jonnes, Jill. Eiffel's Tower Viking, 2009

Harvie, David I Eiffel: The Genius Who Reinvented Himself Stroud,

Gloucestershire: Sutton, 2006 ISBN 0-7509-3309-7

Loyrette, Henri Gustave Eiffel New York: Rizzoli, 1985. ISBN 0-8478-0631-6

Watson, William. Paris Universal Exposition: Civil Engineering, Public Works,

and Architecture. Washington [DC]: Government Printing Office, 1892

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Tokyo Tower Eiffel Tower