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Tor Alva Debuts as World’s Tallest 3D-Printed Tower in Swiss Alps

Opening to guided tours today with performances slated for July, the 98-foot structure aims to boost tourism and cultural life in depopulated Mulegns.

Tor Alva Tower
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Overview

  • Tor Alva stands 98 feet tall with 32 intricately printed concrete columns inspired by local filigree and confectionery traditions.
  • Each column was 3D-printed over five months at ETH Zurich’s Hönggerberg campus before transport and assembly in Mulegns on May 20.
  • A cupola theatre crowns the tower and will host staged performances starting July 2025 to attract visitors and enliven the village.
  • The project uses a custom concrete mix developed by ETH Zurich to achieve complex shapes with minimal material waste.
  • Designed as a temporary installation, Tor Alva will be dismantled and rebuilt at a new location in 2030 to replicate its revitalizing impact.