Tor Alva, The World’s Tallest 3D-Printed Tower, Rises In Switzerland
Image via ETH Zurich
In the remote Swiss village of Mulegns, where the population hovers around a humble dozen, a striking new structure has emerged: Tor Alva (or The White Tower in Romansh).
Standing at nearly 100 feet, this 3D-printed edifice is now the tallest of its kind globally. The tower, unveiled on May 20, 2025, is the result of a collaboration between the Origen Cultural Foundation and ETH Zurich, aiming to revitalize the dwindling community through art, architecture, and technology.
Designed by architect Michael Hansmeyer and ETH professor Benjamin Dillenburger, this engineering feat’s 32 sculpted white columns spiral upward like a modern-day cathedral, culminating in a domed performance space that overlooks the mountain village.
The structure’s layered, decorative design takes cues from the region’s pastry-making traditions, while its sleek lines and intricate details are a product of computational design and robotic precision.
Its 3D-printed concrete columns were fabricated at ETH’s Hönggerberg campus using a rapid-setting mix that allowed intricate forms to take shape layer by layer without the need for molds. Once printed, these elements were transported to Mulegns and assembled on site over the course of five months.
Can 3D-printed concrete revive a dying Alpine village? 🇨🇠Tor Alva, the world’s tallest 3D-printed tower, blends robotics, sustainable design & cultural memory in Mulegns, Switzerland.
— City Architecture Gang (@w_emerg) May 28, 2025
#TorAlva #ETHZurich #SwissArchitecture #MichaelHansmeyer #DigitalConstruction #Sustainable pic.twitter.com/VrTvp50Aad
Steel reinforcements embedded during the printing process ensure the tower’s strength, while its modular design means it can be dismantled and potentially reassembled elsewhere after its planned stay in Mulegns through 2030.
Tor Alva is designed to be used and experienced. Daily tours are already welcoming visitors, and starting in July, the tower’s upper level will transform into a performance venue, with seats for 32 guests. It’s a cultural hub in a place with few visitors, offering an experimental model for how art and technology can improve the standard of living for rural communities.
Tor Alva, the world’s #Tallest 3D-printed #Building, was officially unveiled today in Mulegns – with Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin and ETH President Joël Mesot in attendance. Full article: ethz.ch/en/news-and-...
— ETH Zurich (@ethz.ch) 2025-05-20T14:51:29.068Z
[via ETH Zurich, Tom’s Hardware, New Atlas, cover image via ETH Zurich]
