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The Twisted Tower

The “Turning Torso” tower, built by the Swedish housing association HSB, counts as one of Sweden’s most debated construction projects. During the spring 2005, the building won a prestigious award at a property-industry trade fair in Cannes. Now, a sister building is planned for construction in New York City.

Providing a clear landmark in Sweden’s third-largest city, the Turning Torso stands proud on the shore of the Öresund Straits. Its height is overwhelming, as is the gleaming white façade and the twisted form. The building can actually be seen from 50 kilometers (31.7 miles) away.

With its 54 stories, the Turning Torso is no normal apartment block. In 1996, the Spanish sculptor and architect, Santiago Calatrava, created a design he called the Twisting Torso – a twisting human form consisting of a number of cubes.

The Turning Torso was built by HSB, Sweden’s largest housing organization. The former president of HSB had the idea for the building when he saw Calatrava’s sculpture in a brochure. It did not take long before he traveled to Switzerland to discuss with Calatrava the possibility of transferring the sculptural concept to a twisted building. The rest is history.

The building comprises nine cubes twisting skywards. The lower stories will contain offices and from the fourteenth floor upwards, the tower will contain 147 apartments. At the very top, where no tenants will have access, Kjell Birnbach is working with the roofing. He is a foreman for the roofing and facing company Montak of Trollhättan, Sweden, and uses materials from Trelleborg.

“ The roof is an exceptionally complex construction with many details. It is an advanced and time-consuming job. This isn’t exactly a standard square building,” says Birnbach.

The view from his workplace is magnificent, and on this particular day, a warm breeze prevails. Otherwise, the weather is the greatest challenge, and when there is too much wind or rain, work is put on hold.

“ Obviously, this is a prestigious project and quite a few of us must travel some distance to get to the site. People come to see the building every day. Everyone has an opinion, and my initial impression was mostly that the building was so tall. Of course, it’s also quite attractive.”

Birnbach is not too easily impressed. However, the jury that awarded the prestigious MIPIM Award in Cannes in early March obviously allowed itself to be seduced. The competition, which is held in connection with the world’s largest property trade fair MIPIM, is divided into different categories for commercial centers, office buildings, and homes. The jury evaluates aspects including architectural and technical quality, the originality of design and access to service.

“ The most beautiful structure in the world,” writes HSB of its Turning Torso in the Västra Hamnen area of Malmö. Not everyone agrees, but none can deny that this twisted, white skyscraper has given the region a new, eye-catching profile.

Turning Torso – Facts

• Height: 190 meters.

• The body of the building twists through 90 degrees from base to top.

• Stories: 54

• 4,000 square meters of office space,

• 13,500 square meters of housing

Shared tenant facilities include a wine cellar, conference center, viewing platform, whirlpool, gymnasium, and sauna, as well as a guest room

Resident services are planned, including 24-hour manned reception, cleaning, laundry, handyman, and courier services.

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