Norra Tornen

Norra Tornen (in English, Northern Towers) are a pair of high-rise apartment buildings located in Vasastaden district of Stockholm, Sweden. Opened in 2018, the eastern tower is 125 m (410 ft) tall, consisting of 36 floors. The west tower opened in 2020 and is 110 m (360 ft) tall, with 33 floors. The complex contains 300 residential units and ground breaking took place in the autumn of 2015.^[1][2]

Norra Tornen
Norra Tornen in June 2020
General information
Status	Completed
Type	Residential
Location	Vasastaden
Town or city	Stockholm
Country	Sweden
Coordinates	59°20′45.12″N 18°2′0.9″E
Height	East: 125 metres (410 ft) West: 110 metres (360 ft)
Technical details
Material	Concrete
Floor count	East: 35 West: 30
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Reinier de Graaf
Architecture firm	OMA
Developer	Oscar Properties
Structural engineer	Arup
Website
oscarproperties.com norratornen.se

History

In 2009, the Stockholm City planning office called for the construction of two skyscrapers in a new residential area on the border between Stockholm and Solna, a planning area later named Hagastaden. These 145 m (476 ft) twin towers were called "Tors Torn" in the original zoning plan, after the Torsplan plaza on which they were meant to be built.^[3] The general shape and approximate height were decided by City Architect Aleksander Wolodarski.^[4]

Despite being criticised for its height and for being similar to the Embarcadero Center in San Francisco,^[5] a Norwegian company was awarded the contract to build the skyscrapers – only to pull out in 2011, citing lack of funds.^[6][7] In 2012, the city invited several companies for a new informal competition for the development rights to the property.^[8] Mayor Sten Nordin finally presented the winning proposal in June 2013: A design by the Dutch architectural firm OMA, commissioned by Oscar Properties, scheduled for completion in 2018.^[9]

Construction of the towers

• Construction of the east tower
• 
  February 2017
• 
  March 2018
• 
  March 2018
• 
  June 2018

• Construction of the west tower
• 
  June 2018
• 
  April 2019
• 
  February 2020
• 
  May 2020

References

1. "OMA's Stockholm skyscrapers move towards construction". De Zeen. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
2. "Många ville veta läget i Hagastaden" (in Swedish). Stockholm Municipality. 2014-11-09. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
3. "NORRA STATION – DEN TÄTA STADENS ATTRAKTIONSKRAFT - DP 2009-02013-54" (in Swedish). Stockholm Municipality. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
4. "Arkitekt får hård kritik" (in Swedish). Svenska Dagbladet. 2010-03-08. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
5. "Ang. utformningen av Tors Torn, inför KF:s antagande av detaljplan för Vasastaden 1:16 i stadsdelen Vasastaden - SR Dnr 2009-0375" (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm Municipality & Stockholm Beauty Council. 7 December 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
6. Ekberg, Eddie. "Slottner: Viktigt att Tors torn byggs" (in Swedish). Fastighetssverige. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
7. "Formella beslut - bygg.stockholm.se" (in Swedish). Stockholm Municipality. Retrieved 7 January 2015. I maj 2011 avslutade exploateringskontoret förhandlingarna [...] och markanvisningen [drogs tillbaka]. Den ursprungliga markanvisningen gjordes den 19 november 2009 till Oslo Naeringseiendom
8. "Nystart för markanvisningsprocess i Hagastaden" (in Swedish). Stockholm Municipality. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
9. Sundström, Anders (2013-06-17). "De ersätter Tors torn" (in Swedish). Dagens Nyheter. Retrieved 7 January 2015.