Who Designed the Eiffel Tower? Koechlin, Nouguier, Sauvestre
The Eiffel Tower was designed by engineers Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier, who conceived and patented the structural idea in 1884, and by architect Stephen Sauvestre, who refined its look with arches and pavilions. Gustave Eiffel’s company led, financed, and built the project (1887–1889).
Eiffel Tower Designers: Koechlin, Nouguier & Sauvestre
Most people think one man “designed” the Eiffel Tower. In reality, the structural concept came from two senior engineers in Eiffel’s firm—Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier—while Stephen Sauvestre, the firm’s head of architecture, shaped the tower’s appearance. Eiffel, the entrepreneur-engineer, provided the organization, political backing, funding model, and construction leadership.
Koechlin and Nouguier imagined a 300-meter (984-ft) open-lattice pylon—four iron legs splayed at the base, tapering and braced by trusses. Sauvestre added the familiar base arches, level pavilions, and a top cupola, making the proposal more elegant and acceptable to Parisian taste. This collaborative design—engineered strength plus architectural refinement—is the real answer to “Who designed the Eiffel Tower?”
What most people get wrong
Because the structure carries his name, Gustave Eiffel is often credited as sole designer. He did acquire the patent rights and led the project to completion, but primary design credit belongs to Koechlin, Nouguier, and Sauvestre—the team behind the form we know.
| Designer | Role | Signature Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Maurice Koechlin | Structural engineer | Initial 300-m (984-ft) lattice-tower concept and first sketch (1884) |
| Émile Nouguier | Structural engineer | Co-author of the structural scheme and patent (1884) |
| Stephen Sauvestre | Architect | Arches, pavilions, and cupola—turning an engineering mast into a Paris icon |
From Sketch to Patent (1884): How the Idea Was Born
In June 1884, while searching for a dramatic centerpiece for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, Koechlin sketched a “great pylon” made of four iron trussed legs, joined by regular lattice bracing. He and Nouguier advanced the calculations and proportions, proving that a 300-m (984-ft) tower was feasible with the iron technology of the day.
The 18 September 1884 patent
On 18 September 1884, Eiffel, Koechlin, and Nouguier filed a patent for “a new system of metal pylons and frameworks exceeding 300 m (984 ft).” Eiffel later bought the patent rights from the two engineers, consolidating control as project lead and public face.
Stephen Sauvestre’s Architectural Touch: Turning a Pylon into a Paris Icon
When Eiffel initially hesitated, the firm’s architect Stephen Sauvestre reworked the appearance: graceful parabolic arches linking the four legs, glazed pavilions on the first level, and a top cupola. These choices softened the industrial look, answered aesthetic critics, and helped win approval. Sauvestre’s styling is the reason the structure reads as architecture, not just an iron mast.
As of 2022, with a new DAB+ antenna, the tower reaches 330 m (1,083 ft)—still resting on Sauvestre’s celebrated composition over a square base about 125 m (410 ft) across.
From Proposal to Green Light: Competition, Selection, and Team Roles
Paris launched a competition for the 1889 World’s Fair centerpiece. Out of 107 proposals, the entry from Eiffel’s company—crediting entrepreneur Gustave Eiffel, engineers Koechlin and Nouguier, and architect Stephen Sauvestre—was selected. The mix of structural daring and clear architectural character proved decisive.
Eiffel then shouldered the business risk: a 20-year operating concession, ticket revenue to recoup costs, and a massive fabrication effort. He coordinated design offices and workshops, secured permissions, and defended the project against high-profile critics. Ultimately, this blend of design authorship (Koechlin, Nouguier, Sauvestre) and leadership (Eiffel) produced the winning outcome.
Building the Tower (1887–1889): Methods, Milestones & Measurements
Work began on 28 January 1887 and finished on 31 March 1889—just 2 years, 2 months, and 5 days. The ironwork was pre-fabricated with extraordinary precision: 18,038 parts, thousands of shop drawings, and only about 300 on-site workers, aided by movable platforms, guardrails, and strict safety rules. The tower opened to the public in May 1889 for the Exposition.
Structurally, the open lattice dissipates wind loads while minimizing weight. The original architectural height was 300 m (984 ft); with antennas it has varied over time, reaching 330 m (1,083 ft) after March 2022. The City of Paris owns the monument; day-to-day operation is entrusted to SETE (a city-controlled company).
Timeline highlights and key numbers
Below is a compact timeline with who-did-what, when, and why those steps mattered.
| Year/Date | Milestone | What Happened (with source) |
|---|---|---|
| June 1884 | First sketch | Koechlin drafts the four-legged lattice concept with Nouguier. |
| 18 Sep 1884 | Patent filed | Eiffel, Koechlin & Nouguier patent a system for 300-m+ iron pylons; Eiffel later buys the rights. |
| 1884–1886 | Architectural refinement | Sauvestre adds arches, pavilions, cupola; proposal gains acceptance. |
| 1887–1889 | Construction | Foundations in Jan 1887; completion 31 Mar 1889; opens May 1889. |
| 15 Mar 2022 | New height | 330 m (1,083 ft) after installation of a new DAB+ antenna. |
Credit, Legacy, and Why Names Matter Today
Assigning credit correctly clarifies how great projects really happen. The Eiffel Tower depended on structural invention by Koechlin and Nouguier, aesthetic judgment by Sauvestre, and the industrial capacity and leadership of Eiffel’s company. Museums, encyclopedias, and the official site now routinely list all three designers alongside Eiffel’s firm—and modern databases attribute design and architecture roles accordingly.
For further context on the firm and period engineering, see the CNRS feature “Who Built the Eiffel Tower?” which explains Eiffel’s leadership and the era’s iron technology. It complements the design story told above.
FAQ
Did Gustave Eiffel personally design the Eiffel Tower?
He led, financed, and built it—but the structural design was by engineers Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier, with architectural refinements by Stephen Sauvestre. Eiffel later acquired patent rights and became the project’s figurehead.
What changed the Eiffel Tower’s height to 330 m (1,083 ft)?
A new digital radio (DAB+) antenna installed on 15 March 2022 added 6 m (20 ft), raising the tip height to 330 m (1,083 ft).
When was the tower built and opened to the public?
Construction ran from January 1887 to March 31, 1889, and the tower opened to visitors in May 1889 during the Exposition Universelle.
How big is the base?
The original proposal specified a square base roughly 125 m (410 ft) on a side, supporting an architectural height of 300 m (984 ft).
Who owns and operates the Eiffel Tower today?
The City of Paris owns the monument; operations are managed by SETE (Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel), 99% city-owned.
What Did We Learn Today?
- The Eiffel Tower’s design authors are engineers Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier plus architect Stephen Sauvestre—Eiffel led and built it.
- The concept was patented on 18 September 1884 before the 1889 World’s Fair.
- Construction lasted just 2 years, 2 months, 5 days—opening May 1889.
- The tower now stands 330 m (1,083 ft) after a 2022 antenna addition.
- Getting the credit right shows how engineering, architecture, and leadership combine to make icons.
