Turning Torso
Encyclopedia
HSB Turning Torso is the tallest skyscraper
in Sweden
and the Nordic countries
, situated in Malmö
, Sweden
, located on the Swedish side of the Öresund
strait. Upon completion, it was the tallest building in Scandinavia
, the tallest residential building in the EU and the second tallest residential building in Europe, after the 264‑metre (866 ft) Triumph Palace in Moscow
. A similar, taller skyscraper featuring a 90° twist is the Infinity Tower
, currently under construction in Dubai
, United Arab Emirates
. Prior to the construction of Turning Torso, the 86‑metre (282 ft) Kronprinsen
had been the city's tallest building.
It was designed by the Spanish
architect
Santiago Calatrava
and officially opened on 27 August 2005. The tower reaches a height of 190 metres (623 feet) with 54 stories.
In 1999, HSB Malmö’s former Managing Director, Johnny Örbäck
, saw the sculpture in a brochure which presented Calatrava in connection with his
contribution to the architectural competition for the Öresund Bridge
. It was on this occasion that Johnny Örbäck got the idea to build HSB Turning Torso. Shortly thereafter he traveled to Zurich to meet with Calatrava and ask him to design a residential building based on the idea of a structure of twisting cubes.
and somewhat symbolized the city's blue collar
roots.
The building is constructed in nine segments of five-story pentagons that twist as it rises; the topmost segment is twisted ninety degrees clockwise with respect to the ground floor. Each floor consists of an irregular pentagon
al shape rotating around the vertical core, which is supported by an exterior steel framework. The two bottom segments are intended as office space. Segments three to nine house 147 luxury apartments.
The construction of part of this building was featured on Discovery channel's 'Extreme Engineering
' TV programme which showed how a floor of the building was constructed. McCon also helped along with KD Engineering.
parachuted onto the Turning Torso, and then jumped off it.
Since 2009, it is possible for general public to visit the top of the building. This is only allowed during a few summer weeks, and with pre-booking only, limited number of tickets. As Turning Torso is a private residential building, public access is otherwise avoided.
HSB Turning Torso is the tallest skyscraper
in Sweden
and the Nordic countries
, situated in Malmö
, Sweden
, located on the Swedish side of the Öresund
strait. Upon completion, it was the tallest building in Scandinavia
, the tallest residential building in the EU and the second tallest residential building in Europe, after the 264‑metre (866 ft) Triumph Palace in Moscow
. A similar, taller skyscraper featuring a 90° twist is the Infinity Tower
, currently under construction in Dubai
, United Arab Emirates
. Prior to the construction of Turning Torso, the 86‑metre (282 ft) Kronprinsen
had been the city's tallest building.
It was designed by the Spanish
architect
Santiago Calatrava
and officially opened on 27 August 2005. The tower reaches a height of 190 metres (623 feet) with 54 stories.
In 1999, HSB Malmö’s former Managing Director, Johnny Örbäck
, saw the sculpture in a brochure which presented Calatrava in connection with his
contribution to the architectural competition for the Öresund Bridge
. It was on this occasion that Johnny Örbäck got the idea to build HSB Turning Torso. Shortly thereafter he traveled to Zurich to meet with Calatrava and ask him to design a residential building based on the idea of a structure of twisting cubes.
and somewhat symbolized the city's blue collar
roots.
The building is constructed in nine segments of five-story pentagons that twist as it rises; the topmost segment is twisted ninety degrees clockwise with respect to the ground floor. Each floor consists of an irregular pentagon
al shape rotating around the vertical core, which is supported by an exterior steel framework. The two bottom segments are intended as office space. Segments three to nine house 147 luxury apartments.
The construction of part of this building was featured on Discovery channel's 'Extreme Engineering
' TV programme which showed how a floor of the building was constructed. McCon also helped along with KD Engineering.
parachuted onto the Turning Torso, and then jumped off it.
Since 2009, it is possible for general public to visit the top of the building. This is only allowed during a few summer weeks, and with pre-booking only, limited number of tickets. As Turning Torso is a private residential building, public access is otherwise avoided.
HSB Turning Torso is the tallest skyscraper
in Sweden
and the Nordic countries
, situated in Malmö
, Sweden
, located on the Swedish side of the Öresund
strait. Upon completion, it was the tallest building in Scandinavia
, the tallest residential building in the EU and the second tallest residential building in Europe, after the 264‑metre (866 ft) Triumph Palace in Moscow
. A similar, taller skyscraper featuring a 90° twist is the Infinity Tower
, currently under construction in Dubai
, United Arab Emirates
. Prior to the construction of Turning Torso, the 86‑metre (282 ft) Kronprinsen
had been the city's tallest building.
It was designed by the Spanish
architect
Santiago Calatrava
and officially opened on 27 August 2005. The tower reaches a height of 190 metres (623 feet) with 54 stories.
In 1999, HSB Malmö’s former Managing Director, Johnny Örbäck
, saw the sculpture in a brochure which presented Calatrava in connection with his
contribution to the architectural competition for the Öresund Bridge
. It was on this occasion that Johnny Örbäck got the idea to build HSB Turning Torso. Shortly thereafter he traveled to Zurich to meet with Calatrava and ask him to design a residential building based on the idea of a structure of twisting cubes.
and somewhat symbolized the city's blue collar
roots.
The building is constructed in nine segments of five-story pentagons that twist as it rises; the topmost segment is twisted ninety degrees clockwise with respect to the ground floor. Each floor consists of an irregular pentagon
al shape rotating around the vertical core, which is supported by an exterior steel framework. The two bottom segments are intended as office space. Segments three to nine house 147 luxury apartments.
The construction of part of this building was featured on Discovery channel's 'Extreme Engineering
' TV programme which showed how a floor of the building was constructed. McCon also helped along with KD Engineering.
parachuted onto the Turning Torso, and then jumped off it.
Since 2009, it is possible for general public to visit the top of the building. This is only allowed during a few summer weeks, and with pre-booking only, limited number of tickets. As Turning Torso is a private residential building, public access is otherwise avoided.
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and the Nordic countries
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
, situated in Malmö
Malmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, located on the Swedish side of the Öresund
Oresund
The Sound , is the strait that separates the Danish island Zealand from the southern Swedish province of Scania. Its width is just at the narrowest point between Helsingør, Denmark, and Helsingborg, Sweden...
strait. Upon completion, it was the tallest building in Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
, the tallest residential building in the EU and the second tallest residential building in Europe, after the 264‑metre (866 ft) Triumph Palace in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. A similar, taller skyscraper featuring a 90° twist is the Infinity Tower
Infinity Tower
Infinity Tower is a skyscraper under construction by Palma Real Estate in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The project resumed construction in July 2008, after a delay caused by the collapse of a nearby wall and subsequent flooding of the construction site....
, currently under construction in Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. Prior to the construction of Turning Torso, the 86‑metre (282 ft) Kronprinsen
Kronprinsen
Kronprinsen is a neighbourhood and complex of modernist buildings including a landmark high-rise tower located in Malmö, Sweden in the city district of Västra Innerstaden . The high-rise tower itself is commonly referred to as Kronprinsen...
had been the city's tallest building.
It was designed by the Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Santiago Calatrava
Santiago Calatrava
Santiago Calatrava Valls is a Spanish architect, sculptor and structural engineer whose principal office is in Zürich, Switzerland. Classed now among the elite designers of the world, he has offices in Zürich, Paris, Valencia, and New York City....
and officially opened on 27 August 2005. The tower reaches a height of 190 metres (623 feet) with 54 stories.
Design
The vision of HSB Turning Torso is based on a sculpture called Twisting Torso. The sculpture is a white marble piece based on the form of a twisting human being, created by Santiago Calatrava, a trained sculptor, architect and engineer.In 1999, HSB Malmö’s former Managing Director, Johnny Örbäck
Johnny Örbäck
Johnny Örbäck is a former head of the Malmö, Sweden division of the company HSB, who was the driving force behind the construction of Scandinavia's tallest structure "Turning Torso" designed by Santiago Calatrava....
, saw the sculpture in a brochure which presented Calatrava in connection with his
contribution to the architectural competition for the Öresund Bridge
Oresund Bridge
The Øresund or Öresund Bridge is a combined twin-track railway and dual carriageway bridge-tunnel across the Øresund strait.The bridge connects Sweden and Denmark, and it is the longest road and rail bridge in Europe. The Øresund Bridge also connects two major Metropolitan Areas: those of the...
. It was on this occasion that Johnny Örbäck got the idea to build HSB Turning Torso. Shortly thereafter he traveled to Zurich to meet with Calatrava and ask him to design a residential building based on the idea of a structure of twisting cubes.
Construction
Construction started in the summer of 2001. One reason for the building of Turning Torso was to re-establish a recognizable skyline for Malmö since the removal of the Kockums Crane in 2002, which was located less than a kilometre from Turning Torso. The local politicians deemed it important for the inhabitants to have a symbol for Malmö — after Kockumskranen, which was a large crane that had been used for shipbuildingShipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
and somewhat symbolized the city's blue collar
Blue-collar worker
A blue-collar worker is a member of the working class who performs manual labor. Blue-collar work may involve skilled or unskilled, manufacturing, mining, construction, mechanical, maintenance, technical installation and many other types of physical work...
roots.
The building is constructed in nine segments of five-story pentagons that twist as it rises; the topmost segment is twisted ninety degrees clockwise with respect to the ground floor. Each floor consists of an irregular pentagon
Pentagon
In geometry, a pentagon is any five-sided polygon. A pentagon may be simple or self-intersecting. The sum of the internal angles in a simple pentagon is 540°. A pentagram is an example of a self-intersecting pentagon.- Regular pentagons :In a regular pentagon, all sides are equal in length and...
al shape rotating around the vertical core, which is supported by an exterior steel framework. The two bottom segments are intended as office space. Segments three to nine house 147 luxury apartments.
The construction of part of this building was featured on Discovery channel's 'Extreme Engineering
Extreme Engineering
Extreme Engineering is a documentary television series that airs on the Discovery Channel and the Science Channel. The program features futuristic and ongoing engineering projects. As of April 2011, the show is airing its ninth season. Danny Forster first hosted the series in season 4 and has been...
' TV programme which showed how a floor of the building was constructed. McCon also helped along with KD Engineering.
Events
On 18 August 2006, Austrian skydiver Felix BaumgartnerFelix Baumgartner
Felix Baumgartner is a skydiver and a BASE jumper. He is renowned for the particularly dangerous nature of the stunts he has performed during his career...
parachuted onto the Turning Torso, and then jumped off it.
Since 2009, it is possible for general public to visit the top of the building. This is only allowed during a few summer weeks, and with pre-booking only, limited number of tickets. As Turning Torso is a private residential building, public access is otherwise avoided.
See also
- List of tallest buildings in the world
- List of tallest buildings in Europe
- List of tallest buildings in Sweden
- Malmö TowerMalmö TowerMalmö Tower was a proposed skyscraper in Malmö, Sweden, designed by Danish architect Lone Wiggers of C.F. Møller Architects. The design was revealed at a press conference held by Malmö Municipality on August 21, 2006...
External links
- Fullscreen panorama from Turning Torso
- Turning Torso on Emporis
- PERI GmbH - From a sculpture to a building
- Skyscraperpage.com diagram drawing of Turning Torso by illustrator "Nightsky"
- The New Yorker, October 31 2005, "The Sculptor" Link broken, Nov 2011
- Short films of Turning Torso from various locations
HSB Turning Torso is the tallest skyscraper
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and the Nordic countries
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
, situated in Malmö
Malmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, located on the Swedish side of the Öresund
Oresund
The Sound , is the strait that separates the Danish island Zealand from the southern Swedish province of Scania. Its width is just at the narrowest point between Helsingør, Denmark, and Helsingborg, Sweden...
strait. Upon completion, it was the tallest building in Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
, the tallest residential building in the EU and the second tallest residential building in Europe, after the 264‑metre (866 ft) Triumph Palace in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. A similar, taller skyscraper featuring a 90° twist is the Infinity Tower
Infinity Tower
Infinity Tower is a skyscraper under construction by Palma Real Estate in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The project resumed construction in July 2008, after a delay caused by the collapse of a nearby wall and subsequent flooding of the construction site....
, currently under construction in Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. Prior to the construction of Turning Torso, the 86‑metre (282 ft) Kronprinsen
Kronprinsen
Kronprinsen is a neighbourhood and complex of modernist buildings including a landmark high-rise tower located in Malmö, Sweden in the city district of Västra Innerstaden . The high-rise tower itself is commonly referred to as Kronprinsen...
had been the city's tallest building.
It was designed by the Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Santiago Calatrava
Santiago Calatrava
Santiago Calatrava Valls is a Spanish architect, sculptor and structural engineer whose principal office is in Zürich, Switzerland. Classed now among the elite designers of the world, he has offices in Zürich, Paris, Valencia, and New York City....
and officially opened on 27 August 2005. The tower reaches a height of 190 metres (623 feet) with 54 stories.
Design
The vision of HSB Turning Torso is based on a sculpture called Twisting Torso. The sculpture is a white marble piece based on the form of a twisting human being, created by Santiago Calatrava, a trained sculptor, architect and engineer.In 1999, HSB Malmö’s former Managing Director, Johnny Örbäck
Johnny Örbäck
Johnny Örbäck is a former head of the Malmö, Sweden division of the company HSB, who was the driving force behind the construction of Scandinavia's tallest structure "Turning Torso" designed by Santiago Calatrava....
, saw the sculpture in a brochure which presented Calatrava in connection with his
contribution to the architectural competition for the Öresund Bridge
Oresund Bridge
The Øresund or Öresund Bridge is a combined twin-track railway and dual carriageway bridge-tunnel across the Øresund strait.The bridge connects Sweden and Denmark, and it is the longest road and rail bridge in Europe. The Øresund Bridge also connects two major Metropolitan Areas: those of the...
. It was on this occasion that Johnny Örbäck got the idea to build HSB Turning Torso. Shortly thereafter he traveled to Zurich to meet with Calatrava and ask him to design a residential building based on the idea of a structure of twisting cubes.
Construction
Construction started in the summer of 2001. One reason for the building of Turning Torso was to re-establish a recognizable skyline for Malmö since the removal of the Kockums Crane in 2002, which was located less than a kilometre from Turning Torso. The local politicians deemed it important for the inhabitants to have a symbol for Malmö — after Kockumskranen, which was a large crane that had been used for shipbuildingShipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
and somewhat symbolized the city's blue collar
Blue-collar worker
A blue-collar worker is a member of the working class who performs manual labor. Blue-collar work may involve skilled or unskilled, manufacturing, mining, construction, mechanical, maintenance, technical installation and many other types of physical work...
roots.
The building is constructed in nine segments of five-story pentagons that twist as it rises; the topmost segment is twisted ninety degrees clockwise with respect to the ground floor. Each floor consists of an irregular pentagon
Pentagon
In geometry, a pentagon is any five-sided polygon. A pentagon may be simple or self-intersecting. The sum of the internal angles in a simple pentagon is 540°. A pentagram is an example of a self-intersecting pentagon.- Regular pentagons :In a regular pentagon, all sides are equal in length and...
al shape rotating around the vertical core, which is supported by an exterior steel framework. The two bottom segments are intended as office space. Segments three to nine house 147 luxury apartments.
The construction of part of this building was featured on Discovery channel's 'Extreme Engineering
Extreme Engineering
Extreme Engineering is a documentary television series that airs on the Discovery Channel and the Science Channel. The program features futuristic and ongoing engineering projects. As of April 2011, the show is airing its ninth season. Danny Forster first hosted the series in season 4 and has been...
' TV programme which showed how a floor of the building was constructed. McCon also helped along with KD Engineering.
Events
On 18 August 2006, Austrian skydiver Felix BaumgartnerFelix Baumgartner
Felix Baumgartner is a skydiver and a BASE jumper. He is renowned for the particularly dangerous nature of the stunts he has performed during his career...
parachuted onto the Turning Torso, and then jumped off it.
Since 2009, it is possible for general public to visit the top of the building. This is only allowed during a few summer weeks, and with pre-booking only, limited number of tickets. As Turning Torso is a private residential building, public access is otherwise avoided.
See also
- List of tallest buildings in the world
- List of tallest buildings in Europe
- List of tallest buildings in Sweden
- Malmö TowerMalmö TowerMalmö Tower was a proposed skyscraper in Malmö, Sweden, designed by Danish architect Lone Wiggers of C.F. Møller Architects. The design was revealed at a press conference held by Malmö Municipality on August 21, 2006...
External links
- Fullscreen panorama from Turning Torso
- Turning Torso on Emporis
- PERI GmbH - From a sculpture to a building
- Skyscraperpage.com diagram drawing of Turning Torso by illustrator "Nightsky"
- The New Yorker, October 31 2005, "The Sculptor" Link broken, Nov 2011
- Short films of Turning Torso from various locations
HSB Turning Torso is the tallest skyscraper
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and the Nordic countries
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
, situated in Malmö
Malmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, located on the Swedish side of the Öresund
Oresund
The Sound , is the strait that separates the Danish island Zealand from the southern Swedish province of Scania. Its width is just at the narrowest point between Helsingør, Denmark, and Helsingborg, Sweden...
strait. Upon completion, it was the tallest building in Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
, the tallest residential building in the EU and the second tallest residential building in Europe, after the 264‑metre (866 ft) Triumph Palace in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. A similar, taller skyscraper featuring a 90° twist is the Infinity Tower
Infinity Tower
Infinity Tower is a skyscraper under construction by Palma Real Estate in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The project resumed construction in July 2008, after a delay caused by the collapse of a nearby wall and subsequent flooding of the construction site....
, currently under construction in Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. Prior to the construction of Turning Torso, the 86‑metre (282 ft) Kronprinsen
Kronprinsen
Kronprinsen is a neighbourhood and complex of modernist buildings including a landmark high-rise tower located in Malmö, Sweden in the city district of Västra Innerstaden . The high-rise tower itself is commonly referred to as Kronprinsen...
had been the city's tallest building.
It was designed by the Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Santiago Calatrava
Santiago Calatrava
Santiago Calatrava Valls is a Spanish architect, sculptor and structural engineer whose principal office is in Zürich, Switzerland. Classed now among the elite designers of the world, he has offices in Zürich, Paris, Valencia, and New York City....
and officially opened on 27 August 2005. The tower reaches a height of 190 metres (623 feet) with 54 stories.
Design
The vision of HSB Turning Torso is based on a sculpture called Twisting Torso. The sculpture is a white marble piece based on the form of a twisting human being, created by Santiago Calatrava, a trained sculptor, architect and engineer.In 1999, HSB Malmö’s former Managing Director, Johnny Örbäck
Johnny Örbäck
Johnny Örbäck is a former head of the Malmö, Sweden division of the company HSB, who was the driving force behind the construction of Scandinavia's tallest structure "Turning Torso" designed by Santiago Calatrava....
, saw the sculpture in a brochure which presented Calatrava in connection with his
contribution to the architectural competition for the Öresund Bridge
Oresund Bridge
The Øresund or Öresund Bridge is a combined twin-track railway and dual carriageway bridge-tunnel across the Øresund strait.The bridge connects Sweden and Denmark, and it is the longest road and rail bridge in Europe. The Øresund Bridge also connects two major Metropolitan Areas: those of the...
. It was on this occasion that Johnny Örbäck got the idea to build HSB Turning Torso. Shortly thereafter he traveled to Zurich to meet with Calatrava and ask him to design a residential building based on the idea of a structure of twisting cubes.
Construction
Construction started in the summer of 2001. One reason for the building of Turning Torso was to re-establish a recognizable skyline for Malmö since the removal of the Kockums Crane in 2002, which was located less than a kilometre from Turning Torso. The local politicians deemed it important for the inhabitants to have a symbol for Malmö — after Kockumskranen, which was a large crane that had been used for shipbuildingShipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
and somewhat symbolized the city's blue collar
Blue-collar worker
A blue-collar worker is a member of the working class who performs manual labor. Blue-collar work may involve skilled or unskilled, manufacturing, mining, construction, mechanical, maintenance, technical installation and many other types of physical work...
roots.
The building is constructed in nine segments of five-story pentagons that twist as it rises; the topmost segment is twisted ninety degrees clockwise with respect to the ground floor. Each floor consists of an irregular pentagon
Pentagon
In geometry, a pentagon is any five-sided polygon. A pentagon may be simple or self-intersecting. The sum of the internal angles in a simple pentagon is 540°. A pentagram is an example of a self-intersecting pentagon.- Regular pentagons :In a regular pentagon, all sides are equal in length and...
al shape rotating around the vertical core, which is supported by an exterior steel framework. The two bottom segments are intended as office space. Segments three to nine house 147 luxury apartments.
The construction of part of this building was featured on Discovery channel's 'Extreme Engineering
Extreme Engineering
Extreme Engineering is a documentary television series that airs on the Discovery Channel and the Science Channel. The program features futuristic and ongoing engineering projects. As of April 2011, the show is airing its ninth season. Danny Forster first hosted the series in season 4 and has been...
' TV programme which showed how a floor of the building was constructed. McCon also helped along with KD Engineering.
Events
On 18 August 2006, Austrian skydiver Felix BaumgartnerFelix Baumgartner
Felix Baumgartner is a skydiver and a BASE jumper. He is renowned for the particularly dangerous nature of the stunts he has performed during his career...
parachuted onto the Turning Torso, and then jumped off it.
Since 2009, it is possible for general public to visit the top of the building. This is only allowed during a few summer weeks, and with pre-booking only, limited number of tickets. As Turning Torso is a private residential building, public access is otherwise avoided.
See also
- List of tallest buildings in the world
- List of tallest buildings in Europe
- List of tallest buildings in Sweden
- Malmö TowerMalmö TowerMalmö Tower was a proposed skyscraper in Malmö, Sweden, designed by Danish architect Lone Wiggers of C.F. Møller Architects. The design was revealed at a press conference held by Malmö Municipality on August 21, 2006...
External links
- Fullscreen panorama from Turning Torso
- Turning Torso on Emporis
- PERI GmbH - From a sculpture to a building
- Skyscraperpage.com diagram drawing of Turning Torso by illustrator "Nightsky"
- The New Yorker, October 31 2005, "The Sculptor" Link broken, Nov 2011
- Short films of Turning Torso from various locations