MAD Architects in Mississauga, Ontario

MAD Architects designed the curvy Absolute World Towers, in Mississauga, Ontario. Photo: Tom Arban

The Absolute World Towers, a two-building residential high-rise project in Mississauga, Ontario, has been completed. These sinuous buildings, designed by Beijing, China-based MAD Architects, have an ovoid plan, with each successive floor rotated a few degrees with respect to the one below, resulting in a visual sense of the buildings twisting or dancing. The effect has earned the buildings the dubios nickname the "Marilyn Monroe" towers.

Tower A is 56 stories, while Tower B is 50. Photo: Iwan Baan

At each floor, the concrete slab cantilevers slightly beyond the building envelope to form a continuous balcony that is slightly deeper at the ends of the floor's longer axis. Between the slabs, a ribbon of floor-to-ceiling glazing encircles each level, forming the weather envelope.



The typical floor plan shows 10 units per floor, around a rectangular central service core that is ringed by a continuous hallway.

Typical Absolute World Towers floor plan. Image: MAD Architects

The towers comprise 95,000 square meters  (1.02 million square feet), dividing 861 condominiums between them. Tower A is the taller of the two, at 170 meters (560 feet) in 56 stories, while the 50-story Tower B measures 150 meters (490 feet).

The buildings were completed in November 2012, and received a CTBUH Tall Building Award earlier in the year.

Looking down at the balconies of the Absolute towers. Photo: Iwan Baan

Project Credits

• Owner: Fernbrook and Cityzen
• Design Architect: MAD architects
• Associate Architect: Burka Architects
• Structural Engineer: Sigmund Soudack
• MEP Engineer: Stantec
• Project Manager: MAD: Ma Yansong, Dang Qun, Fernbrook: Anthony Pignetti, Sergio Vacilotto, Ivano DiPietro, Faruq Ahmad, Jordana Scola
• Landscape Architect: NAK Design
• Interior Designer: ESQAPE Design

Absolute World Towers site plan drawing. Image: MAD Architects