Turning Torso is a residential skyscraper in Västra Hamnen, the Western Harbour district of Malmö. Santiago Calatrava designed it, and it was completed in 2005. Its segments turn 90 degrees from base to top, and the tower rises 190 metres over 54 floors. Most visitors come to see the twist from the outside, photograph it from the water's edge, and walk the harbour district around it, where canals, boardwalks, beaches and a working shipyard lie close together.
Design and form
Santiago Calatrava, a Spanish architect, structural engineer, sculptor and painter, designed the tower. Its shape draws on a sculpture he made of a human torso turning, which was itself based on a white marble statue said to show a figure looking back over its shoulder.
The building is made of nine cube-like units that are stacked and turned around a central core. Each level rotates a little more than the one below, so the top is turned 90 degrees from the base. At 190 metres (623 feet) and 54 floors, it was for a time the tallest building in Scandinavia.
Why it was built
Planning began in 1999. The first plans called for a 25-storey building on the site, and Calatrava had been asked to design a temporary information pavilion for the Bo01 housing exhibition. The exhibition company then asked him to design the taller building instead.
The tower was also meant to give Malmö a new civic symbol. It took the place of the Kockums crane, a shipbuilding landmark, and it marks the city's move away from heavy industry.
The building won the 2005 Gold Emporis Skyscraper Award. In 2015 the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat gave it a 10 Year Award.
The Western Harbour around it
Västra Hamnen includes the Bo01 housing exhibition area. Its canals, alleys and boardwalks make it a comfortable district to walk, and it sits between housing, a marina with landscaped parks and the Kockums shipyard, which still builds submarines.
The shore has bathing jetties, large sun decks, cafés, ice cream parlours and pop-up activities for young people in summer. Stapelbäddsparken, a skate park of about 2,000 square metres, is nearby. Malmö-Expressen, an electric mini-train with English audio guidance, stops at the Turning Torso on its loop around the city.
Malmöhus Castle is about five minutes' walk away.
Visiting the tower
The tower is a residential building. The upper floors have been open mainly on guided tours in summer, so for most visits the exterior is the experience.
The pier at Ribersborg is a good spot for a photograph with both the Øresund Bridge and the tower in view. The water is cold even in summer, so a walk and a sit by the shore suit most visitors better than a swim.
FAQ
Can you go inside the Turning Torso?
It is a residential building, so the inside is not open for casual visits. Guided tours of the upper floors have been offered, mainly in summer. Check the building's website before you plan.
How do you get to the Turning Torso?
Bus number 2 serves the area, or you can walk about 20 minutes from the main train station. It is also about five minutes' walk from Malmöhus Castle.
How tall is the Turning Torso?
It is 190 metres (623 feet) tall, with 54 floors. Its segments turn 90 degrees from the base to the top.
Where is the best place to photograph it?
The pier at Ribersborg is a good photo spot, and the Malmö dock with boats in the foreground works well. Many people photograph it from a distance at sunset.
