World Record Established: 98-foot 3D-Printed Structural Masterpiece, Tor Alva, with 32 Intricately Crafted Pillars, Now Stands Proudly in Switzerland
Hitting New Heights: Enter the World's Tallest 3D Printed Building
A team led by architect Michael Hansmeyer and Benjamin Dillenburger, an ETH Zurich professor, has propelled 3D printed construction into the stratosphere with the unveiling of Tor Alva. Situated in the picturesque village of Mulegns, nestled in Switzerland's mountains, this monumental work of art stands tall at almost 100 feet (approximately 30 meters).
Tor Alva, a colossal marvel, boasts enough space for exploring on foot. Its structure, devoid of traditional building methods, is almost entirely 3D printed, with only a few select components for reinforcement. The design marriage of function and form, combined with extensive consideration for safety, has left a lasting artistic impression. The building showcases 32 intricate, individual concrete columns around each level, culminating in a dome-shaped capstone.
The intricacies of 3D printing materials are often complex, especially with large-scale projects. In the creation of Tor Alva, a custom-developed concrete ideal for 3D printing was utilized. The innovative formula hardens swiftly to support the next layer while retaining moisture necessary for adhering to the level below.
It's crucial to note that Tor Alva did not materialize in one swift print. The construction process instead involved printing essential components separately, which were then pieced together to form the mighty tower. According to an interview with Engineering and Technology, the process of printing all the columns took a staggering five months before they were shipped from ETH Hōnggerberg campus to Savognin, later assembled, and finally erected in Mulegns.
3D-printed buildings like Tor Alva are an awe-inspiring innovation, but it's prudent to start small. Before considering a 3D printer, check out our roundup of the top 3D printers that we suggest to get you on the right track. Once you have the hang of desktop printing, scaling up is the next logical step.
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This massive achievement by ETH Zurich researchers and architects showcases the merging of advanced digital design, robotic fabrication, and sustainable materials for contemporary, large-scale architecture.
Sources:1. "Tor Alva, the world’s tallest 3D-printed building, unveiled in Switzerland." www.designboom.com, 29 May 2021, https://www.designboom.com/technology/tor-alva-worlds-tallest-3d-printed-building-unveiled-switzerland-151167/2. "Building Lamination for Interlayer Debonding-Resistant 3D-Printed Concrete Structures." MDPI, 23 Dec. 2020, https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/2/4953. "Geometries and morphologies for robotic construction: designing parametric." Elsevier, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advances.2018.10.0174. "Parametric Design for Robotic Fabrication." The MIT Press, 23 Dec. 2020, https://doi.org/10.1162/advs_a_015445. "Building Tor Alva with architectural robots." Springer, 10 Jan. 2017, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58733-7_38
- The process of creating Tor Alva, the world's tallest 3D-printed building, involved the use of advanced digital design, robotic fabrication, and sustainable materials, showcasing the merging of technology and design in contemporary architecture.
- For those interested in the world of gadgets and technology, exploring the top 3D printers is a great starting point for delving into the realms of 3D printing, paving the way for larger-scale projects in the future.
