Material Innovation and Expression

The tower pioneered the honest expression of industrial materials. Every rivet is visible, every joint celebrated. This transparency of construction method was radical—previous iron structures had hidden their materials behind stone facades.

The puddle iron used (wrought iron refined to remove impurities) was precisely chosen for its properties: - Elasticity to handle wind loads and thermal expansion - Resistance to fatigue from cyclic loading - Workability for riveting and shaping - Longevity with proper maintenance

The material itself became ornamental. The rhythm of rivets creates texture. The overlapping of plates produces shadow patterns. The aging of iron adds patina. What critics dismissed as "raw industrial material" achieved its own aesthetic dignity.