Turning torso building proves sky-high twists
One of the world’s most recognisable skyscrapers, Turning Torso is a building in Malmo, Sweden, designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. The 190 metre high tower’s design is based on a sculpture by Calatrava called Twisting Torso, which is a white marble piece based on the form of a twisting human being. After a long and sometimes difficult building process, the 54-story tower was officially opened at the end of August 2005.
It is the tallest residential building in the EU, and is situated overlooking the Oresund Straight. The nearby Oresund bridge linking Malmo with Copenhagen in Denmark has enabled Danish commuters to take the train or drive to their home in Sweden.
Turning Torso has been called the saviour of Malmo, a shipbuilding town with no ships to build. Its presence has led to the dockside area being redeveloped as a modern housing precinct.
The building was constructed in nine segments of five-story pentagons that twist as your eye is led up to the 54h floor.
The topmost segment is twisted ninety degrees clockwise compared to the ground floor. Each floor consists of an irregular pentagon shape rotating around the vertical core, and the entire structure is supported by an exterior steel framework. The two bottom segments were designed as office space. Segments three to nine house 147 luxury apartments.
This distinctive style is now being copied in an even taller building in Dubai.
What do you think of this innovative design?
Yours in architectural design,
Richard
