Sweden’s Fyrtornet Mass Timber Tower Built Without Concrete Core
Swedish ‘Lighthouse’ Proves Timber Towers Can Skip Concrete Cores
Fyrtornet, or “lighthouse” in Swedish, is a 51.5-meter (169-foot) office tower in Malmö’s Hyllie District that breaks from the standard formula for tall timber buildings, according to a feature by Wood Central (9-1-25). Unlike most plyscrapers, it has no concrete core.
Designed by Wingårdhs, the 12-story structure is built entirely from engineered timber, featuring glulam beams and CLT floor slabs. Even the core—providing lateral stability and housing the stairs—is made from CLT. Concrete is confined to its foundations.
Inside, Fyrtornet spans 9,020 square meters (97,000 square feet) over 11 levels. A café, bakery, and bistro occupy the ground floor, with a public library above. Offices fill the upper floors, while a rooftop garden crowns the building. Interiors highlight the natural warmth of exposed timber.
Believed to be Sweden’s tallest wooden office tower, Fyrtornet uses a two-directional slab-and-beam system, 16-foot column spacing, and steel-stiffened joints to provide lateral stability without concrete.
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