About Karlatornet
Information & curiosities
Here you can find information about Karlatornet
If you're curious about the tallest building in the Nordic region, you've come to the right place. Below you will find all the information about Karlatornet, from when the first sod was cut to how many flights of stairs will take you up to the top if you don't want to use the lift.
Karlatornet in brief
At 246 metres and 74 storeys, Karlatornet stands as the tallest building in the Nordic region. But the building is more than just a landmark; it is a vibrant place full of activity.
The building houses a total of 611 apartments, with the residential floors starting from the third floor and extending to the top. In addition to residential units, the tower also houses a hotel, restaurant, fitness centre and shops, creating a bustling environment around the clock. The crowning glory is the public viewing area at the top - a destination accessible via fast lifts, or for those looking for a real challenge: 3 000 steps from the bottom to the top.
History of the project
The vision of Karlastaden and its high landmark was already born in 2004. After the international architectural competition was won in 2014, the tower began to take shape on the drawing board, and in 2016 the sale of the apartments began.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place in 2018, with a target completion date of 2022. However, the 2020 pandemic brought challenges that forced the project to take a temporary pause. But work resumed in 2021 with renewed vigour. In 2023, Karlatornet finally reached its full height, and in August of the same year, the first excited tenants moved in.
The architects
Karlatornet is designed by the world-leading architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), which was awarded the contract after winning the international architectural competition in 2014. The project was realised in collaboration with the Swedish firm Semrén & Månsson who coordinated the work locally in Gothenburg.
SOM is responsible for the design of 7 of the world's 15 highrise buildings, placing Karlatornet in the exclusive company of global icons. The firm has designed some of the world's most famous skyscrapers, including:
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Burj Khalifa, Dubai (828 m)
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One World Trade Centre, NYC (541 m)
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Zifeng Tower, Nanjing (450 m)
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Willis Tower, Chicago (442 m)
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Karlatornet, Göteborg (249.6 m)
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Interiors and furnishings To give the tower its unique character, the interior design assignment has been split between two contractors. In the exclusive top floors, Skylevel (floors 59-66), says AML Architects for the design. For the other dwellings in the tower, the concepts and interiors were designed by KUB Architects.
Pile driving
Gothenburg's soil conditions are largely made up of deep clay and an old lake bed, which places high demands on the foundations. In order to secure the Karlatornet, 57 so-called excavation piles have been installed. These piles are huge - as much as 2.1 metres in diameter - and each individual pile is designed to carry a load of 4,500 tonnes.
The piles act as anchors that go deep into the ground to balance the height and weight of the building. They first pass through 40-50 metres of clay, then through 6-10 metres of friction soil, and finally are drilled and cast 4-7 metres into solid rock.
The bottom plate
The Karl Tower's foundation rests on a base slab that is 1 000 square metres in size and as much as 3.75 metres thick. Because the slab is cast in a single piece, enormous logistical planning was required.
The pouring of the 3,900 cubic metres of concrete went on continuously for a whole day. A total of 645 transports were required, with lorries shuttling between several concrete stations in Gothenburg and Lindholmen to supply the contractors with material at the required rate.
Thomas Concrete was involved in developing a special recipe for a concrete that was adapted to the requirements of Karlatornet.
Core construction
The frame of the Karl Tower is an advanced structure designed to withstand enormous forces. In the centre of the tower is a in-situ moulded core which grows upwards using a climbing mould. To further stabilise the building against the wind, so-called outriggers - solid concrete walls - on floors 12-13 and 67-68. The outriggers are designed and constructed by VBK, read more about their work on Karlatornet here.
Around the core, the floors are supported by columns. Normally there are 20 columns per floor, but in the part of the tower where the ”twist” occurs, the number is reduced to 16. The joists themselves are only 225 mm thick and post-tensioned, which means they are reinforced with steel cables to withstand large spans with smaller materials.
The tower is crowned by a steel chandelier and a total of 47,850 cubic metres of concrete were used to erect the building from the bottom slab to the top.
The lifts
In a building that stretches 246 metres into the air, the lifts are absolutely crucial for the logistics to work. That's why Karlatornet is equipped with some of Sweden's fastest lifts.
The five high-speed lifts are located in the core of the building and reach a top speed of 8 metres per second (about 30 km/h). This means that the journey from the ground floor to the 69th floor takes just under 28 seconds.
The lift supplier KONE has been a partner throughout the construction process and is still responsible for operations and maintenance to ensure safety and comfort around the clock.
A 3D property
Karlatornet is a unique structure, not only in appearance but also legally. The building is divided into 39 separate properties - so-called 3D property formation - which creates an intricate puzzle of ownership forms and activities under one roof.
The accommodation in the tower is divided into different categories to suit different needs and in total there are 611 apartments in Karlatornet. 581 of them are condominiums divided between four housing associations. In addition, there are 18 studio apartments and the exclusive top floors - 12 penthouse apartments - which are let as owner-occupied apartments.
But the properties don't stop at the homes. The building also houses its own properties for the public observation deck, hotel and office space, underground garages and the foundations that support it all
Karlastaden - a city within a city
A whole new neighbourhood will grow up around Karlatornet. Karlastaden is planned as a dense and vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood with a total of 2,000 new homes. There will be a variety of housing types for all stages of life - from student accommodation and rented flats to tenant-owned flats, sheltered housing and retirement homes.
But Karlastaden is more than just housing. The area includes a total of 70,000 square metres of space dedicated to offices, hotels, retail and services such as a health centre and school. The planned office space of 20,500 square metres alone is expected to add at least 1,400 workplaces, contributing to the hustle and bustle of the area even during the day.
Stay in Karlatornet
Living in Karlatornet is a whole new way of life. Here, the boundary between the private home and the service of an exclusive hotel is blurred. Right from the entrance, you are greeted by a manned reception that sets the tone for the building's range of services.
As a resident, you have access to facilities that make everyday life both easier and more enjoyable. Start your day in the gym or relax in the hotel spa. For those working from home, there are conference rooms to book, and when it's time for leisure, the hotel's own cinema room awaits.
Social life also has its place. On the 15th floor, there's a large communal kitchen and dining room - perfect for when you want to entertain lots of guests but need more space than the apartment offers. Convenience also extends to the four-legged members of the family who have access to their own ”Pet Spa”, and the car is conveniently parked in the house garage.
A home for all
The community in the house is characterised by great diversity. Contrary to the perception that Karlatornet is only for the very rich, this is a home for people at all stages of life. Students, Volvo workers, CEOs and pensioners who have opted out of the retirement home in favour of a simpler everyday life meet here.
With apartment sizes ranging from 24 to 300 square metres - and prices varying between SEK 2.5 and 69 million - Karlatornet has become a multicultural building with something for everyone.
Meet Evan, aged 91: Hear the oldest residents of the Karlat Tower talk about what it's like to live in the tower.
Recognised abroad
The development of Karlatornet has been a long process with many parties involved. But the result is unique and world-class. This was particularly evident in 2025 when Karlatornet won three international awards at CVU within the categories;
- 2025, Award of Excellence, Best Tall Building Europe, Council on Vertical Urbanism (CVU)
- 2025, Award of Excellence, 200-299m Height, Council on Vertical Urbanism (CVU)
- 2025, Category Winner, 200-299m Height, Council on Vertical Urbanism (CVU)
The Karlator Tower in the spotlight
Karlatornet has aroused curiosity and interest right from the start, and this interest has not waned now that the building has been completed. Over the years, many cameras have been pointed at the tallest building in the Nordic region, both during construction and after occupation. Here we have gathered a selection of videos and reports for those who want to see more of the tower - both inside and out.
From criminal slum to billion-dollar dog spa project
The Tower series
During construction, a small documentary series was recorded about Karlatornet, you can find all 10 episodes below.
