The Story Behind Malmos Turning Torso The Worlds First Twisting Tower

It’s not just the tallest building in Sweden, it’s the tallest building in the Nordic countries, and Malmö’s award-winning Turning Torso, the first in a wave of “twisting” buildings, has quite the story behind it. When it opened in August 2005, it was also the highest residential building in the European Union and the second tallest in Europe as a whole.

Turning Torso was inspired by a sculpture called Twisting Torso, which was made entirely from white marble by Santiago Calatrava, the engineer, architect, and sculptor who also designed the Turning Torso.

The idea to create this incredible structure came at a time when Malmö was undergoing a renaissance, with local politicians eager to redevelop the former industrial stronghold of the city’s west, with a vision towards making the decaying area a hallmark of urban renewal, featuring homes, businesses, culture, and entertainment. They wanted something that had power and would make an impact not just in the region but around the world.

The first segments of the Turning Torso are filled with offices, while the following six segments offer 147 luxury flats that are kitted out with the finest of amenities. Each floor has one to five apartments.

Turning Torso is also recognized for its pioneering sustainable design, as well as for its execution of sustainable industry standards. One hundred percent of the energy consumed in the building is renewable, coming from hydro, solar, wind, and geothermal sources. Residents can make informed decisions regarding their energy consumption with electricity consumption meters installed in each unit, all of which also include an organic waste disposal unit, which converts all waste material into energy.

In the end, the Turning Torso helped spur Malmö’s momentum and is a point of pride for city residents as they continue to develop into one of the most vibrant and unique cities in Europe.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.