If you happened to visit an industrial park in France's eastern Alsace region you would come across an unexpected sight: vivid red steel segments lying side by side, as if someone took apart the Eiffel Tower and forgot to put it back together.

What you are looking at is a 1/10 scale replica of famed architect Gustave Eiffel's masterpiece, built by a retired metalworker and his grandson.

Jean-Claude Fassler, 77, and Kilian Antenat, 22, have worked side by side in Sainte-Croix-aux-Mines for eight years to recreate Eiffel’s original 1889 vision of the iconic Parisian landmark.

The steel structure, set to stand at 30 metres (98.5 feet) tall upon completion, is based on historical plans Fassler found in a 1989 reproduction of Eiffel’s original drawings.

"I’ve been a fan of Gustave Eiffel for a very long time," Fassler said. "The Eiffel Tower is the most famous monument in the world, so I wanted to do that. But not as it is now, I prefer the original one."

The structure, supported by 8.5-tonne pillars, pays homage to the details of the original design, from its 'Venice' red paint to its distinctive passageways and some decorative elements.

Though Fassler, now limited by age-related mobility issues, has put down the welding torch, he still supervises the work while Antenat handles 3D digital modelling, laser cutting, welding, and assembly.

The duo's collaboration began when Antenat joined Fassler as an apprentice at age 14, allowing the young man to learn his grandfather's trade.

"There are just the two of us, so I get to do more things than if there were ten of us obviously," Antenat said.

"I get to be involved in everything, that is to say, the design, the drawing, the assembly. Really, everything."

The big day is set for August 26, when a crane will lift and slot the segments into place.

Fassler invested his own money and used tools from his former business to bring the project to life.

He hopes to sell the replica to recoup the costs but has one personal dream before parting with it: "I'm going to sleep on the first floor, for one night. So I'll be able to say I've made it and that I have an apartment in the Eiffel Tower."