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60 CPI %u2013 Concrete Plant International %u2013 4 | 2025 www.cpi-worldwide.comOn 20 May 2025, Tor Alva was officially opened in the village of Mulengns, Switzerland. Designed as a temporary performance space, the tower is the world's tallest building to date made using digital concrete fabrication. It was developed by the Chair of Digital Building Technologies (DBT) at ETH Zurich, in partnership with the Origen Cultural Foundation. The project marks a significant outcome of ongoing research within the NCCR Digital Fabrication.3D Concrete Printing Without FormworkTor Alva builds on seven years of research into 3D concrete printing (3DCP), with a focus on eliminating the need for traditional formwork. This approach enables greater design freedom and reduces material use. The foundation for this work was laid in 2018 within the Chair of Digital Building Technologies (DBT) by Dr. Ana Anton, who began developing robotic extrusion methods for large-scale components as part of her doctoral research. Her thesis, Tectonics of Concrete Printed Architecture, explored how 3DCP could move from lab experiments to real buildings. Since then, research at DBT has advanced significantly. Dr. Eleni Skevaki and other researchers have refined the structural and material aspects of 3DCP. Their shared aim: reduce waste, increase automation, and open up new possibilities in architectural geometry.From Columns to a Full-Scale TowerThe collaboration with the Origen Cultural Foundation began in 2019 with a smaller project: Concrete Choreography. This installation featured nine 3D-printed concrete columns used as stay-in-place formwork. It served as a first step in testing the material and construction methods under real conditions. With Tor Alva, the scale and ambition of the collaboration increased. The tower serves as a venue for cultural performances and events in the mountain village of Mulengns. At the same time, it acts as a demonstration of how digital fabrication can respond to architectural and regional needs%u2014such as building temporary structures in areas with limited infrastructure.Tor Alva OpenA Milestone in 3D Concrete Printingn Lea Keller, NCCR Digital Fabrication, SwitzerlandThe inaugurated Tor Alva is located in the Swiss mountain village of Mulegns. %u00a9Benjamin Hofer, Nova Fundaziun Origen