13 July, 2023
Scaffolding is a versatile temporary structure used to facilitate a wide range of building and maintenance projects. It allows construction teams to work safely at height by facilitating access to rooftops, chimneys and gutters for domestic projects. Scaffolding is also essential for large-scale building work such as bridge construction or the erection of public monuments.
This man-made tool has been an essential piece of building equipment for centuries, where it has played a pivotal role in the creation of some of the world’s best known structures. Read on to find out more about famous scaffolding projects, both past and present.
Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel is part of the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City, where its famous fresco ceiling was painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512. The Chapel originally featured scaffolds constructed by Papal court architect Donato Bramante, where scaffolding was hung by ropes and suspended from holes in the ceiling. Michelangelo contested this design, where he resented the obstruction these holes caused to his paintwork. As an alternative, he ordered freestanding wooden scaffolding to be constructed that did not touch the walls or ceilings, allowing the ceiling to be painted fully.
Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China refers to a collection of defensive fortifications which were built across the historical northern borders of Ancient China. Early parts of the wall were thought to have been constructed in the 7th century BC, where later sections were added around 200 BC. This impressive structure took over 2000 years to build, reaching its final form in approximately 1680 AD. A key part of its construction throughout this time involved the use of bamboo scaffolding, where sturdy segments of bamboo were tied together with rope to build climbable frames.
La Sagrada Familia
La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world. Originally designed by architect Antoni Gaudi, the Basilica has been under construction since 1882. Work has continued since Gaudi’s death in 1926, where it is expected to reach completion in 2026, one hundred years on. At the time of Gaudi’s death, less than 25% of the work was complete, where scaffolding has surrounded the famous building ever since, becoming just as well recognised as the structure itself.
Big Ben
Big Ben, or Elizabeth Tower, is a highly recognisable clock tower in London, which was originally constructed between 1843 and 1859 at the same time as Westminster Palace. The tower has undergone extensive repairs several times, where the large chiming bell has forcibly fallen silent on numerous occasions. The biggest renovation project yet was undertaken in 2017, where conservation efforts were finally completed in 2022 at a total cost of £80 million. Scaffolding surrounded the tower for a significant portion of the renovations, where the iconic clock face disappeared from view whilst its paintwork and detailing were restored.
TJR Scaffolding Ltd: Supporting The Architecture of Tomorrow
At TJR Scaffolding we offer a comprehensive range of scaffolding supplies and builder’s trestles, available for sale or hire. We provide both domestic and commercial scaffolding in order to facilitate construction projects of all sizes, where you can contact us today to find out more about our products.
