World's tallest 3D-printed tower - Massive building aims to boost tourism in Swiss village
One of the world's tallest 3D-printed structures was unveiled in the small Swiss village of Mulegns.
The nearly 30-meter-high “Tor Alva” or “White Tower” is a collaboration between the Zurich Institute of Technology and the Origen cultural foundation. It showcases advanced digital construction techniques. According to its builders, it is the tallest 3D-printed tower in the world.
Designed to serve as a cultural center, the tower aims to revitalize the village, which is home to just 11 residents and faces depopulation.
The structure features 32 sculpted concrete columns, created through robotic manufacturing or 3D printing. A new concrete mix and a new reinforcement method, developed by Zurich researchers, enable the tower's load-bearing capacity.
"We managed to integrate reinforcement into the 3D-printed concrete so that it functions like conventional reinforced concrete, although by its nature it is quite different," explained Professor Walter Kaufmann.
The design, which resembles a decorated layered cake, pays homage to the history of pastry shops in the region.
Tor Alva, located in the Julier Pass near St. Moritz, will open for guided tours on May 23. The tower will remain in Mulegns for five years before possible relocation.
Developers say the project emphasizes innovative construction and aims to promote sustainable tourism in the region.
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