Zurich/Mulegns GR – The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) is building the world’s tallest 3D-printed building. The white column tower called Tor Alva, built in Mulegns, has architectural references to the local confectionery tradition. It is 30 meters high and consists of 124 individual printed parts.
(CONNECT) The world's tallest 3D-printed structure will open in Mulegns on the Julier Pass in the canton of Graubünden in May 2025, according to a press release: The 30-meter-high Tor Alva tower. It was developed by a team of researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) in the midst of historic buildings and is intended to attract more tourists to the town.
The tower is 30 meters high and consists of 124 individual printed parts. The architecture with sculptural pillars made of white concrete is visually reminiscent of the Grisons confectioners who once ensured the town's prosperity. According to the press release, it took five months to print the components. The ETH spin-off Saeki was involved in the construction in September 2024 with a 3D-printed formwork to connect the components.
The design was created by Benjamin Dillenburger, ETH Professor of Digital Building Technologies, and architect Michael Hansmeyer in collaboration with ETH professors Robert J. Flatt and Walter Kaufmann. They call the process "digital craftsmanship". It is based on a new design algorithm that can generate many shapes in different variations. In addition, unique and customized components from the 3D printer are more efficient and cost-effective to produce.
In this process, the material is applied in layers and differs from conventional concrete casting, which requires formwork. This additive manufacturing allows the surface to be freely designed. The construction project, funded by the ETH Foundation's Escher Circle, could provide new insights into the limits of layer-by-layer manufacturing and where the advantages of 3D printing outweigh the disadvantages.
The researchers also went their own way with the statics. The civil engineering firm Conzett Bronzini Partner was involved in the realization with branching elements that become increasingly slender and ramify up to the dome space. Houses are already being built using 3D printers. Tor Alva was the first to be able to carry loads. This is made possible by an innovation developed by Dillenburger's group in cooperation with the ETH spin-off Mesh and Zindel United. ce/heg
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