(photo: Pierre Mens © HSB Turning Torso)

The Turning Torso is a significant building. Significant in design, appearance and stature. At present, it is the tallest building in Scandinavia and the second highest residential structure in Europe. Conceived by architect Santiago Calatrava, the building stands 54 stories and consists of 9 five-story cubes. The design effect of the staggered floors gives the appearance of a twisting building. The top cube is at a 90 degree angle from the base cube. Housed within the building are 147 apartments and 10 floors of office space. Residents started moving to move in back in March, 2006. A restaurant affiliated to the project recently opened, on November 17, in a gallery that is adjacent to the building.

(photo: (C) arcspace)

I recently took a trip to Copenhagen, which is a drive over a bridge away from Malmo. At the time I did not know that the Turning Torso existed. Had I known, you can bet that I would have said to my girlfriend, hey let’s hop over to Malmo for the afternoon and see the Turning Torso. And she would have said sure. I guess that will be for next time.

Marty Finestone’s activitybook will soon post some information on Santiago Calatrava, arguably one of the best architects in the world right now. In the mean time, however, you can find his website here.

View the flickr tag set for the Turning Torso.

Turning Torso facts

- Architect: Santiago Calatrava, architect, sculptor, engineer noted for the Olympic Stadium in Athens and the planned subway station at Ground Zero in New York.
- Ground breaking: Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2001.
- Interior: Samark Arkitektur & Design AB.
- Height: 190 meters – 54 stories – a 38-second elevator ride to the top, but there’s also a stairway for the hearty.
- Rank: Tallest residential building in Scandinavia, next tallest in Europe.
- Area: 400 square meters per floor.
- Windows: 2,500 using 5,500 square meters of glass.
- Concrete: 25,000 cubic meters used in construction.
- Sway: Virtually none. In a storm with a wind force of up to 44 meters per second, a maximum of 30 centimeters at the top.
- Office space: Rentals, half or all of space on floors 2-12 (cubes one and two).
- Living space: 147 apartments, 45-190 square meters, in 33 designs.
- Average rental costs: Residential: SEK 1,850 per square meter per year (about USD 225); office: SEK 2,400 per square meter per year (about USD 290).

(Photo: Erland Andersson © HSB Turning Torso)