The world’s tallest 3D-printed tower opens to tours in the Swiss Alps

Architecture lovers with a head for heights can now visit the world’s tallest 3D-printed tower, which has opened in the remote Swiss village of Mulegns, along the Julier Pass.

Dubbed Tor Alva or ‘White Tower’, the Baroque-inspired structure stands 30 metres tall and was designed by architects Benjamin Dillenburger and Michael Hansmeyer, who, back in 2013, completed the world’s first 3D-printed room. The glistening white tower features a cupola theatre enveloped by a forest of filigree, branching columns, and is believed to be the tallest entirely 3D-printed structure of its kind.

Tor Alva was designed for Fundaziun Origen and printed in segments at ETH Zurich using a robotic concrete extrusion process. The components were then transported to Mulegns and assembled on site. Its modular design allows the tower to be dismantled and relocated after its five-year residency in the village, without compromising its structural integrity.

Visitors can ascend the tower’s spiral staircase to enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding mountains.

The 3D-printed tower also serves as a venue for public music and theatre performances, with programming planned across the next five years.