The unveiling of the White Tower, on May 19, 2025, was made in a fairly unusual way: by helicopter.
Keystone / Gian Ehrenzeller
With almost a year late, a very special building was unveiled at the end of May in the Grison Mulegns village, at the Col du Julier: “Tor Alva”, the white tower. What makes it exceptional is the fact that with its 30 meters high, it is the highest building ever made by 3D printing in the world.
And hop, the building is revealed. Unlike use, the veil does not fall down – no, a helicopter pulls the silver coat upwards and flies away.
This is how the Mulegns white tower, the highest building ever printed in the world, has officially emerged. For the columns of the tower, an industrial robot from the Zurich Federal Polytechnic School (EPFZ) applied layer by layer of concrete.
It is a layer by layer that the 3D printer of the EPFZ printed the concrete to form the columns.
Keystone / Michael Buholzer
The principle is revolutionary: thanks to the impression of a concrete structure, it is possible to save half of the material compared to the traditional concrete construction.
A three -meter -high column can be printed in two hours, including steel strengthening. And that without the need for formwork.
The robots applied more than 4000 layers to make the 32 columns, all designed individually with an internal hub structure, which make up the “Tor AlvaExternal link».
The 3D printer is actually a robotic arm equipped with a nozzle, by which the concrete mixture can be printed.
Keystone / Michael Buholzer
The shape of the tower willingly recalls that of richly decorated cakes – and it is no coincidence. Indeed, many gray pastry chefs have emigrated to the four corners of the world over the past centuries, sometimes becoming very rich thanks to their art of pastry.
This video (in English) offers a good overview of the project:
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Some obstacles
The inauguration of the White Tower was actually scheduled for the end of June 2024. But before the federal adviser Guy Parmelin could finally inaugurate this structure accessible to the public, the manufacturers had to overcome several challenges.
At first, it was impression “that it was enough to print these columns, to assemble them, and it was finished,” said Giovanni Netzer, director and founder of the Origen cultural foundation, citedExternal link par SRF News.
It was this foundation that launched the project. Origen is known throughout Switzerland for its commitment to culture and contemporary architecture, as well as for the preservation of historical heritage.
A crane was necessary to place the double pillars of the tower.
Keystone / Gian Ehrenzeller
According to his own description, the Nova Fundation Origination is a cultural institution located in the mountains. She “encourages a diversified scenic creation, preserves and gives back to historic monuments, invests in a daring contemporary architecture, supports original crafts and is committed to a quality hotel”.
In 2018, the Foundation received the Wakker Prize awarded by Swiss Heritage. For the first time, this price was not awarded to a municipality, but to a foundation. Its commitment shows the economic potential that awaits to be activated in mountain regions, beyond mass tourism.
In Mulegns, the foundation acquired the buildings of Post Hotel Löwe as well as the Villa Blanche From the family of pastry chefs Jegher, in order to save them from the dilapidation. The villa was moved by a few meters, which made it possible to slightly widen the pass road in the village.
For several years, a red tower and a wooden yellow tower stood on the Julier pass. The Origen Foundation had installed them and used for the Origen Festival Cultural.
But the obstacles were much more important for the white tower. Changes in the technologies used have led to many delays during the seven years of development, printing and construction.
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History
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This content was published on
16 jan. 2023
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The reaction of the material to the alpine climate required additional adjustments. The mountain village of Mulegns, where the White Tower is now located, is located 1480 meters above sea level, just below the Marmorera dam, for which the village of Marmorera had been engulfed in the 1950s.
Workers have fixed the double floors upstairs by floor.
Keystone / Gian Ehrenzeller
Revive the village
It is partly for this reason that the cost of the tower increased from 4.1 to 4.4 million francs. It was funded by contributions and donations. According to Watsonthe foundation is however still looking for half a million francs.
According to its own declarations, the Foundation wishes to use “Tor Alva” as an immersive place for representations. In the upper room in the shape of a dome of the white tower, cultural events can accommodate up to 45 people.
Origen also hopes to revitalize the village, which currently only has twelve inhabitants. Whether thanks to cultural events or architectural enthusiasts, who should be more and more numerous to take the Route du Col du Julier.
That said, those who wish to get into the tower must pay an entry right of 100 francs. However, this price is to be put into perspective, since it also includes a round trip by public transport from a station in the canton of Graubünden.
Plunging view of the site.
Keystone / Gian Ehrenzeller
International influence
The building also aroused international interest. Many renowned media from different countries have talked about the tower, including Forbes magazineExternal link. The article highlighted the combination between advanced 3D printing technology and the cultural scope of the tower.
En bland rags, architectureExternal link mentioned a redefinition of the limits of architecture: “The white tower embodies a new aesthetic made possible by digital manufacturing.” The delicate formal language underlines the game between light and shadow, has further estimated the publication.
Thanks to the prefabricated elements with their cutouts, the assembly could be carried out relatively easily.
Keystone / Gian Ehrenzeller
An additional project of the Origen Foundation should also strengthen the attractiveness of Mulegns: in collaboration with EPFZ and partners from industry and crafts, the Foundation plans to create a skills center dedicated to digital construction technologies on site.
This center aims to transmit in -depth knowledge of digital construction processes, both to professionals in the sector and to people outside the branch. The project is currently in the design phaseExternal linkindicates the foundation.
The white tower is now completed, but considered as an ephemeral work limited to five years due to the commune’s severe prescriptions in terms of constructions.
Keystone / Gian Ehrenzeller
Only for a time
However, there is a downside concerning the white tower: it will only stay in Mulegns for five years. Communal construction legislation does not provide for such buildings, which is why the Origen Foundation voluntarily presented the tower as a temporary artistic installation, according to the Südostschweiziz newspaperExternal link.
A member for the Grand Council asked the Grison Government if it was ecologically judicious. The president of government, Marcus Cadoff, replied, according to the newspaper, that it depended mainly on what would come from the tower after dismantling. The client envisages at least reuse, and the materials used are designed to be recyclable.
“Positive ecological effects are possible if the innovative concrete printing techniques, more economical in materials and resources, spread more quickly thanks to this project,” quoted the newspaper by taking up the words of Marcus Cadoff. .
Text reread and verified by Balz Rigendinger, translated using the AI/OP
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