The idea for this thread came from leafing through a book on the history of skyscrapers in London. Scandinavia, to my surprise, was represented with two scrapers. No mean achievement when you consider that almost all of the old classical scraper were divided between New York and Chicago while the new generation of scrapers are almost all in Asia. Europe was almost entirely absent and even places like London, Paris and Frankfurt had only two or three a piece.

I started off researching how many towers Scandinavia has over 100 m, excl. TV towers, church spires and the like, and how many we can expect in the future. My initial reaction was that a list with only these would be a bit too bland. Some towers in the range of 50-100m will therefore have to make the list, if its particular design or history merits it. Only one tower is in this category so far.


Sweden.

Turning Torso in Malmo
Height: 190 m (2005)

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o190/jmoxon/TT.jpg

A beacon of light for Scandinavia, the original design of this residential tower makes it one of the most remarkable additions to the history of skyscrapers, not only in Scandinavia but in the wider world also. The architect is the Spaniard Santiago Calatrava, who is also the man behind the statue that inspired the building. The turning tower concept has further inspired imitations, as evidenced by a new project in Dubai. It is the second highest residential building in Europe and it can allegedly be seen from Copenhagen. You probably already guessed that this is one of the scrapers in the book.

Kista Science Tower in Stockholm

Height from base: 124 m (2003)
From entrance floor: 117 m
w/ spire 156 m

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o190/jmoxon/kista.jpg

Kista Science Tower is the tallest business tower in Sweden and the centerpiece of an ICT business cluster known as Kista Science city, which lays claim to being the Silicon Valley of the Nordics. Its strategic areas of growth are in mobile services, wireless systems and broadband systems. Ericsson, Nokia, Microsoft, Intel, IBM, HP and Oracle are some of the names you will find here.


Denmark

Amtsygehuset i Herlev

Height: 120 m (1976)

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o190/jmoxon/herlev.jpg

Before Kista, this was the tallest in Scandinavia. It is also one of the tallest hospitals in the world

Domus Vista in Fredriksberg (Copenhagen)

Height: 102 m (1969)

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o190/jmoxon/domusvista-1.jpg

The tallest in Denmark until the hospital took over. It is Still Scandinavia’s highest pure residential tower. Picture by Denver Dane, he doesn’t think much of it though.

Radisson SAS Hotel in Copenhagen

Height: 70m (1960)

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o190/jmoxon/jacobsen.jpg

Despite not meeting the height criteria, this building merits special mention. It was the first ‘design’ tower and thus set a trend. Its exterior and interior are designed by famous Danish designer Arne Jacobsen, a man who designed chairs that would later prove their worth in photos of naked ladies, among other things. Looks rather dated now, you really need to know its background as an artistic achievement to appreciate it. It was also in the book.


Norway

Radisson SAS Plaza Hotel in Oslo

Height: 117 m (1989)

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o190/jmoxon/plaza.jpg

This hotel is the tallest building in Norway. The site was originally cleared for a mosque that was never built, but Oslo Plaza, as it is commonly known, is still facing Mecca.

Postgirobygget (Biskop Gunnerus Gate 14) in Oslo

Height 111 m (1975)

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o190/jmoxon/postgirobygget.jpg

This building is frequently cited as a reason for why Oslo should not have tall buildings. It was previously a post office building and only 84 meters. The remaining floors were added in 2003.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o190/jmoxon/cluster.jpg

These two buildings together make up the closest thing to a cluster I can think of in Scandinavia. Photo, brought to us by Qazaq.

If anyone wants to add better pics, then feel free! Most of these are taken from Wikipedia.

Ok, so now we can take a look at what might materialize in the future:

AtlanticaC5 reports that Sweden might get as much as 7 new towers.
There are three proposals for Stockholm but it doesn’t seem that any of them will materialize anytime soon, if ever. They are Tell Us Tower (200m), Kista Terass (120m) and Lighthouse Stockholm (104m). The tower in Malmo, simply named Malmo Tower (216m), will probably be built, unless something unforeseen should occur. The remaining three are all part of a project entitled Solna city in Solna 1x210m and 2x120m. The future of that project is also unknown.
Mlm informs us of three new towers for Denmark. He is not too optimistic about them though, Udsigten in Esbjerg (125m) gets a 70% chance but City tower in Hoje Taastrup (106m) only 25% chance of getting built in his estimate. The most interesting project is Tivoli Four Seasons Hotel (104m) by Fosters & Partners in Copenhagen.
Qazaq tells us about three projects for Norway: Tyin Panorama (130m) in Vang?:eek:
There are two planned for Stavanger: Bryggeriparken hoyhus (110m) and Forus hoyhus (100m). None for Oslo.:ohno:

Let me know if I missed out anything!

Here are the renders of what I consider to be the most interesting project in each country:

Sweden

Malmo Tower

Height: 216m

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o190/jmoxon/malmotower.jpg

This building was originally planned at 180 m, but now seems likely to surpass Turning Torso as the highest in Scandinavia. This is great news and demonstrates a rare will in Malmo to build tall. Its proximity to Copenhagen should allow it to continue to thrive as part of a dynamic region. The rest will depend on how truly visionary the town planners and investors prove to be. Hard to tell from the render what this tower will in the end look like so we will just have to wait and see. Render form AtlanticaC5s thread.


Denmark

Tivoli Four Seasons Hotel

Height : 102 m

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o190/jmoxon/tivoli1.jpg

Normally, I would be skeptical of tall modern buildings in the center of Copenhagen. But I have to say, Fosters proposal, fits in very well in the skyline and provides a new funky look to the city hall square, and at the same time, gives it back its symmetry. Very interesting project and definitely one I would like to see materialize. Render from mlm's thread.


Norway

BryggeriParken hoyhus

Height: 110m

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o190/jmoxon/Bryggeriparken.jpg

Norway has gone into a limbo in what tall buildings are concerned as projects of only 40 meters height have met considerable resistance. It is a breath of fresh air, then, to see little Stavanger planning to embellish their new business district with two towers. They have a great opportunity to think big, invest and convert the profits from the oil industry to become the main finance and commercial hub of western Norway. Also, Stavanger, as far as I know, is all flat, so we might be able to avoid the whole amphitheatre theme used against Oslo.

That’s it!
Feel free to add more 70-80m type towers if you feel that a special design deserves it special mention. Low-rise buildings that show off good Scandinavian design are also acceptable. The two operas in Copenhagen and Oslo or den sorte diamant library in Copenhagen spring to mind.

Nice thread and great work - joamox

Somehow I'm glad that we didn't build a lot of skyscrapers in Copenhagen/Denmark through the 60th.
I really don't like them at all. I know that the SAS Hotel in Copenhagen were designed by the famous Danish designer Arne Jacobsen, but honestly I don't like it.

Let's hope the years and the patina won't do the same thing to Ferring in Ørestaden or TT in Malmø.

Feel free to add more 70-80m type towers if you feel that a special design deserves it special mention. Low-rise buildings that show off good Scandinavian design are also acceptable. The two operas in Copenhagen and Oslo or den sorte diamant library in Copenhagen spring to mind.

Ok.. I'll say the "plesner" building "Amerika plads" Copenhagen - Love it.
http://www.byggeplads.dk/2004-1/billeder/20/20a.jpg
http://www.byggeplads.dk/2004-1/billeder/20/20b.jpg

Good idea joamox! This could turn out quite interesting. A correction on Kista Science Tower though, the tower is only 117 m tall (earlier incorrectly listed as 128 m), so it has actually never been taller than the hospital in Herlev. However, some people claim KST is taller than 117 m, but that is if you count the height from the road below the tower (where the main entrance not is located). Oh well, it's all relative I guess :)

The second highest Scandinavian tower is also in Sweden and it is the only one over 100 meters in the capital. It was originally meant be taller, but Sweden went through a recession at the time, so it was decided to decrease the height. This explains the little box on the top, which actually is the elevator shaft. The building was meant to have a flat roof.
Where'd you get that info? I've seen some of the other ideas for the design of the building and none of them was what you mention. The box on top isn't just the top of the elevatorshaft (with machinery and roof acces) it also houses the stuff making the transmitters on the antenna work. So having a flat roof wouldn't work...

Ok, so I edited the bit on KST.
The old information was from Wikipedia, while the new is from the official site of Kista science city.
The height was originally taken from emporis, and it seems reasonable to me to calculate the height from the base of the building even though the main entrance to the ground floor is not located there. In any case, I added the figure of 117m as well. This is something that never will reach a general consensus I bet. The Kista Science city site claim that it is 160m, so there you go.
The information from wikipedia which i can neither prove, nor disprove was the following:

The second highest Scandinavian tower is also in Sweden and it is the only one over 100 meters in the capital. It was originally meant be taller, but Sweden went through a recession at the time, so it was decided to decrease the height. This explains the little box on the top, which actually is the elevator shaft. The building was meant to have a flat roof.

In case you didnt read it before.:)

The Kista project seems really ambitious, do we have anything on future projects there?

Hehe, oops didn't mean to jump on the new guy like that... :cheers1:

Yeah, wiki is a great site, but can be unrelieble at times (hadn't read that bit before). As for the differing height numbers around... At least it's a good thing they're trying to have KST be as tall as possible. 160m is from the ground to the tip of the antenna iirc, but that's not the standardized way to measure it. Atlantica is using a figure from the publicly availible side-view .pdf on Stockholms Stadsbyggnadskontor's website.
The Emporis numbers are from the ground to roof, but the way this is measured is from main entrence to roof/spire and the main entrence isn't at ground-level.

Kista has a few things in the works, but none going up now nor in the near future. All u/c here now is a 6s office building, part of Kista Terrass.

Copenhagen

Notice not all buildings are presented!!!

Christiansborg Palace ( 106m )
Danish Paliament
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/2479/29gb9.jpg

City Hall ( 106m )
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/1281/21xn6.jpg


Sct. Nicolai Museum ( 90m )
Former Church
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/2152/04vk1.jpg

Carlsberg HQ ( 88m )
http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/4979/10wg0.jpg

Radisson SAS Scandinavia ( 86m )
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/9223/25cw8.jpg

The Feering building ( 80m )
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/1999/13gl7.jpg

Radisson SAS Royal Hotel ( 70m )
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/527/151we1.jpg

Kongen's Bryghus ( 70m )
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/9990/09xd4.jpg

The Codan Building ( 66m )
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/1732/05xp7.jpg

Scandic Hotel ( 62m )
http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/9865/skylinehf8.jpg

The PSG House ( 62m )
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/6981/166af0.jpg

Frederiksberg Rådhus ( 60m )
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/571/billede102lm6.jpg

Radisson SAS Falkoner Hotel ( 57m )
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/2600/16iv3.jpg

DANHOSTEL Copenhagen ( 56m )
http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/1124/billede076un5.jpg


I might update the list later...

^^ Though the first three aren't highrises are they? ;) Btw, is it a coincidence both City Hall and the Parliament are 106 m?

OK, so here are the 10 tallest highrises in Sweden, with some translations of the names :D

1. Turning Torso
Malmö - 190 m, 55 floors, 2005
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v387/astro_miffo/cphmlmsthlm/cphmlmsthlm133l.jpg

2. Kista Science Tower
Stockholm - 117 m, 30 floors, 2003
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v387/astro_miffo/Sthlmmaj06/Sthlmmaj06024.jpg

3. DN-skrapan (Daily News Building)
Stockholm - 84 m, 27 floors, 1964
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2f/DN-skrapan_Stockholm_2005-11-06.jpg/400px-DN-skrapan_Stockholm_2005-11-06.jpg

4. Söder Torn (South Tower)
Stockholm - 83 m, 24 floors, 1995
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v387/astro_miffo/Stockholm%20november/Stockholmnovember076.jpg

5. Kronprinsen (The Crown Prince)
Malmö - 82 m, 27 floors, 1964
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v387/astro_miffo/cphmlmsthlm/cphmlmsthlm157.jpg

6. Läppstiftet (The Lipstick)
Göteborg - 81 m, 23 floors, 1989
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/G%C3%B6teborg_Utkiken-Turm_.jpg/450px-G%C3%B6teborg_Utkiken-Turm_.jpg

7. Skrapan (The Scraper)
Västerås - 81 m, 26 floors, 1990
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Skrapan,_Västerås.jpg/250px-Skrapan,_Västerås.jpg

8. Studentskrapan (The Student Scraper
Stockholm - 81 m (height have been increased?), 25 floors, 1959
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v387/astro_miffo/Sthlmdec06/december081.jpg

9. Folksamhuset (Folksam Building)
Stockholm - 79 m, 24 floors, 1959
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/FolksamhusetR%C3%A4ttv%C3%A4nt20061018.jpg/250px-FolksamhusetR%C3%A4ttv%C3%A4nt20061018.jpg

10. Wenner-Gren Center
Stockholm - 74 m, 25 floors, 1961
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Wenner-Gren_Center_Stockholm_fr%C3%A5n_Norrtull_2005-07-24.jpg/250px-Wenner-Gren_Center_Stockholm_fr%C3%A5n_Norrtull_2005-07-24.jpg

Huuuuu, with a few exceptions, all the existing highrise in scandinavia is really ugly and of very poor architectural quality. I put my hopes on Malmo, since turning Torso is beautiful. But even Ferring in Copenhagen is in my opinion not quite an architectural marvel; its prison like architecture while its new.

But ok, as a Dutchman I'm really spoilt with highrise.

Nice to see all gathered like this.
@AtlanticaC5. Is "lipstick" relocated in Stockholm perhaps?

^^ Hehe sorry, I put the facts of KST on the Lipstick by mistake :D Should be correct now

Very nice!

Huuuuu, with a few exceptions, all the existing highrise in scandinavia is really ugly and of very poor architectural quality.

That's the 50s-70s for ya. :( IMO this is also a big reason whay so many Scnadinavians are against tall buildings - all the ones they see are pretty ugly/boring.

^^
Sadly, this is true. Scandinavian architects jumped on the high-rise bandwaggon in the 50s, 60s and 70s, and the results have been considered public enemys ever since.
But I think, as in the case with the SAS hotel in Copenhagen, that we should be able to appreciate that this was considered an expression of modernism during that time. The danger with everchanging trends and perceptions is that in 20 years, towers that were considered beautiful today, will be considered eyesores. But I agree, too many of the old school towers are boring and at times downright ugly.

Personally, of the less than 100ms, I like Soder Torn in Stockholm and Skrapan in vesteraas. where is that?
Danhostel, Carlsberg HQ, Codan and Scandic all look ok, but nothing special.
Ferring and Plesner have been mentioned twice, but I dont really like them.

Anyway, we are still waiting for the Norwegian highrises, anyone?

I have a small studentrum at Skrapan in Västeras...
The city is just 100km west of Stockholm

I think this one deserves to be presented here.

Rica Seilet Hotel in Molde

84m to mast
54m to roof (2002)

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o190/jmoxon/seilet-02.jpg

I think this one deserves to be presented here.

Rica Seilet Hotel in Molde

84m to mast
54m to roof (2002)



Needs a photo.

http://www.pbase.com/kiwirob/image/74301692.jpg

Hey Gang

Just looking through this thread reminded me of something I noticed before. In Stockholm there seemed to be a slew of high-rises built late 1950s-early 1960s, and then nothing of any significance for over 20 years. Was there a particular reason for this?

Were these towers part of some specific urban renewal? Was there a change in planning laws such that no more high-rises were built in certain areas?

C

Ok, so now we can take a look at what might materialize in the future:

AtlanticaC5 reports that Sweden might get as much as 7 new towers.
There are three proposals for Stockholm but it doesn’t seem that any of them will materialize anytime soon, if ever. They are Tell Us Tower (200m), Kista Terass (120m) and Lighthouse Stockholm (104m). The tower in Malmo, simply named Malmo Tower (216m), will probably be built, unless something unforeseen should occur. The remaining three are all part of a project entitled Solna city in Solna 1x210m and 2x120m. The future of that project is also unknown.
Mlm informs us of three new towers for Denmark. He is not too optimistic about them though, Udsigten in Esbjerg (125m) gets a 70% chance but City tower in Hoje Taastrup (106m) only 25% chance of getting built in his estimate. The most interesting project is Tivoli Four Seasons Hotel (104m) by Fosters & Partners in Copenhagen.
Qazaq tells us about three projects for Norway: Tyin Panorama (130m) in Vang?:eek:
There are two planned for Stavanger: Bryggeriparken hoyhus (110m) and Forus hoyhus (100m). None for Oslo.:ohno:

Let me know if I missed out anything!

Here are the renders of what I consider to be the most interesting project in each country:

Sweden

Malmo Tower

Height: 216m

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o190/jmoxon/malmotower.jpg

This building was originally planned at 180 m, but now seems likely to surpass Turning Torso as the highest in Scandinavia. This is great news and demonstrates a rare will in Malmo to build tall. Its proximity to Copenhagen should allow it to continue to thrive as part of a dynamic region. The rest will depend on how truly visionary the town planners and investors prove to be. Hard to tell from the render what this tower will in the end look like so we will just have to wait and see. Render form AtlanticaC5s thread.


Denmark

Tivoli Four Seasons Hotel

Height : 102 m

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o190/jmoxon/tivoli1.jpg

Normally, I would be skeptical of tall modern buildings in the center of Copenhagen. But I have to say, Fosters proposal, fits in very well in the skyline and provides a new funky look to the city hall square, and at the same time, gives it back its symmetry. Very interesting project and definitely one I would like to see materialize. Render from mlm's thread.


Norway

BryggeriParken hoyhus

Height: 110m

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o190/jmoxon/Bryggeriparken.jpg

Norway has gone into a limbo in what tall buildings are concerned as projects of only 40 meters height have met considerable resistance. It is a breath of fresh air, then, to see little Stavanger planning to embellish their new business district with two towers. They have a great opportunity to think big, invest and convert the profits from the oil industry to become the main finance and commercial hub of western Norway. Also, Stavanger, as far as I know, is all flat, so we might be able to avoid the whole amphitheatre theme used against Oslo.

Oh man, what projects from 4 years ago :ohno: 130meter building at Tyin?

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5261/5555087775_58243e7f6e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/striderv/5555087775/)
Tyin Høyfjellshotell, Jotunheimen, Norway (http://www.flickr.com/photos/striderv/5555087775/) by Striderv (http://www.flickr.com/people/striderv/), on Flickr

I have a hard time imagining that being a serious proposal...

Bump:) Can anybody answer my above question??:) (End of page one).

Hey Gang

Just looking through this thread reminded me of something I noticed before. In Stockholm there seemed to be a slew of high-rises built late 1950s-early 1960s, and then nothing of any significance for over 20 years. Was there a particular reason for this?

Were these towers part of some specific urban renewal? Was there a change in planning laws such that no more high-rises were built in certain areas?

C

It's not a Stockholm phenomenon. The world experienced an economical boom in the period after Second World War and notably from the late 1950's (In Denmark it starts 1957 but we are also a bit late to the party) to the first oil crisis in 1973.

Most of the highrises in Scandinavia were built during this period, but unfortunately that also resulted in highrises that were very suburban and a result of uninspired functionalism. Housing had to be built fast, aplenty and cheap in order to offer the working class that were living in the old and crowded city cores a better housing standard. More room, private toilets and "breathing room" were among the things now available to the masses.

Thanks Asbjoern!!

Much the same as in Dublin except of few highrises came a little later...early 1960s.

I was wondering because alot of the Swedish buildings seem very concentrated in a small period of time with relatively few being built even in the later 1960s/early 1970s (pre-oil cricis).

C