Digital architecture sets world record in Swiss Alps

A very special building was unveiled at the end of May in the village of Mulegns in eastern Switzerland: Tor Alva, the White Tower. At 30 metres, it is the tallest 3D-printed building in the world. With a swoosh, the building was unveiled. The cover didn't fall down as usual – a helicopter pulled the silver cloak up and flew off with it. Thus the world's tallest ever printed building, the White Tower of Mulegns, officially saw the light of day. An industrial robot from the Swiss federal technology institute ETH Zurich had applied layer upon layer of concrete for the tower's columns. The principle is revolutionary: by printing a concrete structure, half the material can be saved compared to conventional concrete construction methods. A three-metre high column can be printed in two hours, including steel reinforcement. And no formwork elements are required. The robots applied more than 4,000 layers for the 32 individually designed columns with an internal honeycomb structure that ...