Tor Alva Now Officially the World’s Tallest 3D-Printed Tower, Stands 98-Feet-Tall

Photo credit: Benjamin Hofer / Nova Fundaziun Origen
In Mulegns, Switzerland, a village of just 11 residents, Tor Alva, the world’s tallest 3D-printed tower, stands 98.4 feet tall (30 meters). Officially unveiled on Tuesday (May 20), this collaboration between ETH Zurich and the Origen was designed to host art, music, and theater.

Once a 19th-century hub for confectioners, Mulegns now faces depopulation along the Julier mountain pass. Tor Alva seeks to change that, turning the village into a cultural destination. “Novel ideas and technical know-how from ETH Zurich, the visionary drive of the Origen cultural foundation, and support from public authorities, companies, and private individuals made this exceptional project possible,” said an ETH Zurich representative. Built atop a former blacksmith’s shop, the tower offers a performance space with panoramic views of the Julier Valley.

The tower’s construction is its true innovation. ETH Zurich’s Digital Building Technologies team used robotic 3D printing to extrude 5mm-thick concrete layers, guided by custom software. This method cut material use by half compared to traditional builds. “The White Tower demonstrates the groundbreaking possibilities of computational design and digital fabrication,” said architect Michael Hansmeyer, who designed it with Benjamin Dillenburger. The Y-shaped columns twist intricately, echoing Graubünden’s ornate architectural past. “The form of the structure is reminiscent of an ornate layered cake,” noted Vanessa Bleich in an ETH Zurich report.


Creating Tor Alva was a logistical marathon. The columns were printed over five months at ETH Zurich’s Hönggerberg campus, then transported to Savognin and assembled in Mulegns by summer 2024. A spiral staircase and domed performance space were finalized over the winter. “The computer model lets us reverse the conventional design process and explore the full design scope for a project,” said Matthias Kohler, a professor at ETH Zurich, in a related discussion. The structure’s components are designed for reuse, reflecting a commitment to sustainability. “This construction method avoids waste because no formwork for pouring concrete is necessary,” explained an Origen cultural foundation representative.



Photo credit: Benjamin Hofer / Nova Fundaziun Origen
Tor Alva is temporary, set to stand for five years before potential relocation. Starting May 23, 2025, guided tours will welcome visitors, with performances beginning in July. The project drew expertise from ETH Zurich’s Chair of Structural Engineering, Robotic Fabrication Laboratory, and Institut für Baustoffe. “I’m convinced this will become a cultural and touristic landmark,” said an ETH Zurich spokesperson.


Photo credit: Benjamin Hofer / Nova Fundaziun Origen
For Mulegns, Tor Alva is more than a tourist draw—it’s a symbol of renewal. The village, once a thriving center, now stands at a crossroads. “This project shows how technology can breathe life into forgotten places,” said Benjamin Dillenburger, co-designer of the tower. Its presence could spark a renaissance for the village and inspire similar ventures across the region.
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