Among the charming centuries-old cottages, an elaborate white tower in Switzerland stands out like a sore thumb. To put that into perspective, that's more than six times the size of a double-decker bus! Known as Tor Alva (the'White Tower'), the gleaming white construction in the small village of Mulegns offers a new tourist attraction and cultural hub. Tor Alva is intended to emulate a layered cake – a tribute to the history of confectioners in the region – and also takes inspiration from filigree, an intricate metalwork technique used in making jewellery. Giovanni Netzer, founder of the Origen Cultural Foundation, which designed and built the tower with ETH Zurich, called it'a technical triumph'. 'It inspires the building sector, encourages sustainable tourism and offers new cultural space,' Mr Netzer said.