Eiffel Tower, Paris: revitalisation of monumental trees with TreeParker

In 2019, the area surrounding the Eiffel Tower was redesigned as part of a safety and renovation project. With the TreeParker soil cell system by GreenMax/TreeBuilders, the growing conditions of the monumental trees were sustainably restored by creating hundreds of cubic metres of additional underground rooting space. More than 7 years later, the results demonstrate the success of this approach: healthy trees that provide shade, cooling and a green setting around one of the most visited monuments in the world.

Oui oui, Paris! The city of love, art and of course the Eiffel Tower. With nearly seven million visitors per year, this world-famous monument is one of the most visited attractions in the world. The iconic tower is surrounded by historic gardens and monumental trees that have long been part of this remarkable location. To preserve this green environment for the future, the area was redesigned in 2019 with attention to both safety and sustainability.

Each year, the Eiffel Tower and its surrounding gardens attract millions of visitors. This immense visitor pressure had taken its toll over the years. Due to the constant addition of gravel layers and intensive use of the site, the subsoil had become increasingly compacted. From the beginning of the twentieth century, further changes and increasing development also began to disrupt the rhythm and symmetry of the gardens. Gradually, the fragmented and step-by-step planting obstructed the historic sightline. Over time, the vegetation structure became less recognisable. As a result, the roots of the existing trees had less and less space, air and water, causing growth to come almost to a standstill. By 2016, when the city of Paris called for new safety measures for the site, the gardens appeared exhausted and worn down.

Following the terrorist attacks in Paris in 2015, additional safety measures were implemented around the Eiffel Tower. The redesign of the area, including new entrances and barriers, offered more than just a solution for safety. For VOGT Landscape Architects, this was the moment to revitalise the historic gardens around the Eiffel Tower and at the same time invest in improved growing conditions for the existing trees, so that they can continue to grow healthily in the long term.

For this challenge, the TreeParker soil cell system by GreenMax/TreeBuilders was selected. At the entrances and exits of the avenues, the existing trees gained access to approximately 150 m³ of additional underground rooting space. For this purpose, TreeParker units with a height of 80 cm were installed. Thanks to this construction, the trees once again have sufficient uncompacted soil for healthy root development. At the same time, a new, heavy-duty pavement was installed above ground, suitable for the intensive visitor flows around the Eiffel Tower. Above the soil cell systems, a foundation layer of 40 cm was applied, finished with a concrete layer of 15 cm. This made it possible to retain the existing trees and integrate them into the new concrete walkway constructed along the full length on both sides of the monument.

With the help of Tree Root Guiding, the roots were directed towards the available rooting space within the TreeParker system, allowing them to develop optimally underground. This created a sustainable tree pit in which the trees can once again develop well, without compromising the intensive use of the public space.

The execution of the project took place in two phases. In January, work began on the left side of the Eiffel Tower, where the first TreeParker soil cell systems were installed. This phase proceeded smoothly, without complications caused by existing cables or pipes. The second phase followed in March, during which GreenMax/TreeBuilders remained involved to ensure this part of the execution also ran smoothly. The project was financed by the management of the Eiffel Tower and was realised through close cooperation between all parties involved. With this project, not only has the public space around the iconic monument been improved, but a sustainable future has also been created for the mature trees that give the area its character and will continue to grow in the years to come.

In 2024, GreenMax/TreeBuilders was invited by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to participate in a documentary by TeamNL. The documentary highlights leading projects with a Dutch character around the Olympic Games in Paris and tells the story of sport, sustainability, innovation and inclusion. It also showcases the collaboration between the Netherlands and France. For the recordings, a film crew from Amsterdam visited the Eiffel Tower, where they filmed the trees that are now thriving thanks to the TreeParker system. We gave an interview in which we spoke about our role in this remarkable project.

In the spring of 2026, seven years after the project was completed, we returned to the Eiffel Tower to assess the results. Despite temperatures rising to nearly 35°C, the trees looked lush, green and healthy. They provide shade and cooling for visitors, while also contributing to the appearance of the world-famous monument. The project demonstrates how urban infrastructure, safety and greenery can reinforce one another. Whereas the trees were previously hindered by soil compaction, they now once again have the space to continue growing and fulfil their important role in the Parisian cityscape.