Turning Torso, the highest building in Scandinavia, watches over Malmö. Photo: Pierre Mens © HSB Turning Torso.

A sculpture looming from the landscape, Turning Torso is the tallest building in Scandinavia and the second-highest residential structure in Europe (behind Triumph-Palace, Moscow). Designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, the 54-story building offers office space on floors 2-12, conference facilities with spectacular views on the top two floors, and 147 apartments of various sizes in between. All of the space has been rented.

Functional art
The inspiration for Turning Torso came from the marble sculpture Twisting Torso, also the work of Calatrava, and reflects the organic, made-for-people spirit that has gone into Malmö city planning. Göran Rosberg, head of information at the Malmö City Planning Office, says: “It’s part of our plan for urban sustainability, a joint venture among the city, the university and the private sector.”

Turning Torso consists of nine, five-story cubes – with intermediate floors in between – staggered so the structure seems to twist as the eye ascends. The top cube is at a 90-degree angle to the one at the base. The square segments are built around a spine-like circular core containing elevators that whisk you from the ground to the top in 38 seconds.


Calatrava's construction was inspired by his sculpture, Twisting Torso. Photo: Pierre Mens  © HSB Turning Torso.
 
Classy, but not costly
Companies started moving into Turning Torso at the end of October. A week later people began moving into their apartments, a process not expected to be completed until March 2006 with two tenants moving in per day. Anja Trägårdh, head of information at HSB Turning Torso, says: “We have a broad mix of people moving in, singles, couples, people in their twenties and thirties, empty nesters, couples with kids.”

Apartments range from 45 square meters to 190 square meters. All have hardwood flooring, spacious kitchens and bathrooms, storage space, and come fully equipped with modern appliances – not to mention a view unmatched anywhere. The living space is exquisite, but residents get more than that. The 43rd floor boasts a gym, sauna and Jacuzzi, while the panorama room on the 49th floor makes a great place to host a cocktail party. A concierge is on hand around the clock should residents require anything, and there is a temperature-controlled wine cellar offering secure storage.

In short Turning Torso promises no-maintenance living in what might be called the Swedish city of the future. Maja Johansson, 28, and Marcus Larsson, 32, say they have found their dream home. "As we enjoy sailing during our free time, we were looking for a special apartment with a great view of the sea. When we saw Turning Torso at sunset for the first time, we instantly knew it was the perfect place for us.”

Rentals are a true bargain, considering Turning Torso is probably the most fashionable address in Sweden. Compared with other metropolitan areas in the world, the cost of living in Turning Torso is a steal. And it is fair to say that Malmö is part of a metropolitan region now that a bridge links the city to Copenhagen.


A room with a view: Turning Torso is one of the most fashionable addresses in Sweden. Photo: Erland Andersson © HSB Turning Torso.

‘Corridor of education’
Göran Rosberg at the Malmö City Planning Office says: “The city is interpreted by the university and everything about Malmö points toward the future.” Just a few years ago, Lund University was the educational center of southern Sweden. Colleges affiliated with Lund have opened in Malmö and elements of the institution dot the city. “Now there’s a vibrant corridor of education extending from Lund, through Malmö and across the bridge into Denmark,” Rosberg notes, along with the fact that it takes less than an hour to drive from one end of the corridor to the other.

What is more, medical, IT and other companies have been drawn to the area, creating further symbiosis between commerce and education. Malmö may have a modest population of 270,000, but the extended area - called the Öresund Region - is home to 3.6 million people.

Pointing to the future
Turning Torso stands in Västra Hamnen (the Western Harbor), formerly an industrial area of the city. From the top of the building you now see nothing but stunning new architecture, which began with the Bo01 housing project a few years ago. Other projects - by a host of different architects - have either been built since then or will be. “The city wanted to point out architecture of quality,” Rosberg says.

No matter where the shadow of Turning Torso is cast, it falls on attractive, sustainable buildings or a shoreline made for recreation. One of the buildings is a teachers’ college. From there it’s a short walk – through a delightful wooded park frequented by joggers, dog walkers and strollers, with a watercourse winding alongside footpaths – to older Malmö.

The core of the city is a mix of old and new architecture, bustling pedestrian streets and squares filled with eateries. There are more than 164 nationalities living in Malmö and as you walk along you may hear the chatter of more than 100 languages. Most striking of all is how many young people there are, but it’s hardly surprising: everything points to the future in Malmö.


The Öresund region attracts both students and companies from all over the world. Photo: Lasse Davidsson © Position Skåne.

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).

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Charles Ferro is a freelance writer living in Copenhagen. He is the editor-in-chief of the expatriate magazine Abroad, the author of 17 books for children/youth as well as correspondent for several international publications and radio.

The author alone is responsible for the opinions expressed in this article.

Classification: A120ENa

© Front page image: Pierre Mens © HSB Turning Torso
© Photo 1: Pierre Mens © HSB Turning Torso
© Photo 2: Pierre Mens © HSB Turning Torso
© Photo 3: Erland Andersson © HSB Turning Torso
© Photo 4: Lasse Davidsson © Position Skåne