White Tower (Tor Alva), Mulegns Tower Officially Unveiled!
The White Tower (Tor Alva), the world’s tallest 3D-printed building, was officially unveiled on May 20th during a ceremony in Mulegns, Switzerland. A helicopter dramatically lifted the protective membrane off of the tower, revealing the 30-meter tall 3D-printed structure to the public for the first time. Visitors climbed the tower’s spiraling staircase, passing intricate columns, to reach the soaring cupola theater, which offered breathtaking panoramic views of the Alpine landscape. As night fell, animated illuminations brought the tower to life, transforming it into a radiant beacon along the historic pass road.
A Beacon in the Village of Mulegns
Tor Alva (“The White Tower”), the world’s tallest 3D-printed building, rises 30 meters above the Alpine village of Mulegns, Switzerland. Designed by Michael Hansmeyer and Benjamin Dillenburger with ETH Zurich for the Origen Cultural Foundation, the tower reimagines Mulegns’ cultural legacy through groundbreaking architecture. It functions as both a beacon for the village and an immersive performance space, crowned by a cupola theater enveloped in a forest of filigree branching columns—a breathtaking venue above the village rooftops.
With its spectacular architecture and ground-breaking technology, the tower demonstrates the possibilities that computational design and digital fabrication offer the fields of architecture and construction. These include not only economic and ecological advantages, but they allow for an elaborate non-standard architecture with a rich variety of forms.
Symbiosis of Art and Research
The project fulfills a dual mission: creating a one-of-a-kind performance space where architecture, culture, and science intersect, while revitalizing a village facing structural challenges. It also showcases ETH Zurich’s pioneering research in digital construction, advancing methods that foster richer, more sustainable built environments.
The tower pioneers the use of 3D-printed structurally-reinforced concrete, enabling a distinctive architectural form characterized by 32 unique 3D-printed columns. Each column is articulated with a bold array of forms and intricate ornamentation at multiple scales, giving the structure an enigmatic, otherworldly presence. It evokes the craftsmanship of the Baroque master builders of Grisons, forging a bridge between the traditions of the past and the innovations of the future.