Absolute World, Residential skyscraper in Mississauga, Canada
The development comprises two principal towers with continuously curving facades reaching 179.5 meters (589 feet) and 161.2 meters (529 feet), surrounded by four additional low-rise residential buildings in downtown Mississauga.
Beijing-based firm MAD Architects won an international design competition in 2004, with construction beginning in 2007 and reaching completion in 2012, delivering 920 residential units across the development.
The curved architecture of the main tower drew comparisons to Marilyn Monroe's silhouette, leading locals to nickname the development the "Marilyn Monroe Towers," a reference that has become part of Mississauga's urban identity.
The buildings are private residential properties without public access, though visitors can view them from nearby Burnhamthorpe Road or City Centre Drive. The complex sits adjacent to Square One Shopping Centre, accessible via multiple bus routes and the future Hurontario light rail line.
Each floor of the taller tower has a unique layout, with the building rotating 209 degrees from base to top through incrementally shifted floor plates, requiring innovative engineering solutions that pushed the boundaries of residential construction.
Location: Ontario
Inception: 2012
Architects: MAD Studio
Floors above the ground: 56
Elevators: 6
Address: 50 Absolute Ave, Mississauga, ON L4Z 0A8, Canada
Phone: +19058488701
Website: http://absoluteworld.ca
GPS coordinates: 43.59460,-79.63540
Latest update: December 1, 2025 08:25
Postmodern architecture emerged in the 1970s as a response to the rigid principles of modernism, reintroducing color, ornament, and historical references into contemporary building design. The movement evolved over decades, producing structures that challenge conventional forms and experiment with different materials and surfaces. These buildings demonstrate varied approaches to design, from playful facades to complex geometric constructions, showing how architects employ new technologies while engaging with historical stylistic elements. The collection includes cultural institutions such as the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and Casa da Música in Porto, public buildings like Seattle Central Library and Almere City Hall, and religious structures such as the Jubilee Church in Rome. Other examples include the SIS Building in London, Dancing House in Prague, and Niterói Contemporary Art Museum in Rio de Janeiro. The Louvre Pyramid in Paris and the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus show different interpretations of postmodern principles. The Piazza d'Italia in New Orleans with its colored colonnades and the Portland Building with its decorated facade represent early postmodern works in the United States.
This collection brings together high rises and structures from different continents that redefine conventional building standards through their exceptional architecture. From the spiral rotation of Turning Torso in Malmö to the distinctive form of the CCTV Headquarters in Beijing, these buildings showcase innovative approaches to construction and design. The selection includes Burj Khalifa in Dubai, currently the world's tallest building at 2,717 feet (828 meters), as well as Marina Bay Sands in Singapore with its distinctive rooftop terrace. The collection also presents cultural facilities such as the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao by Frank Gehry with its sculptural titanium facades and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Additional examples are the Absolute World Towers in Mississauga, known as the Marilyn Monroe Towers for their twisted structure, as well as Shanghai Tower, which rises 2,073 feet (632 meters). The Guangzhou Opera House and the Helix Bridge in Singapore demonstrate the diversity of contemporary architectural solutions. Each of these structures combines technical innovation with architectural vision and shapes its city's skyline. From historic skyscrapers like the Empire State Building to modern developments like Bosco Verticale in Milan with its planted facades, this selection offers insights into the evolution of high rise construction worldwide.
Contemporary skyscrapers push the boundaries of vertical architecture with structures that challenge gravity through rotations, twists, and spirals. These buildings reflect advances in structural engineering and allow for residential, commercial, and cultural structures with facades that sometimes rotate 90 degrees from base to top. The Cayan Tower in Dubai stands out with its 1,014-foot height and a full rotation across 73 floors, while the Shanghai Tower reaches 2,073 feet thanks to a twisted shape that reduces wind pressure. These structures can be found worldwide. The Absolute World Towers in Mississauga, Canada, feature wavy designs that earned them the nickname Marilyn Monroe Towers. In Prague, the Dancing House impresses with its curved glass walls contrasting with surrounding historic architecture. The Soumaya Museum in Mexico City displays an asymmetric form covered with thousands of hexagonal aluminum panels. The Lakhta Tower in Saint Petersburg and Capital Gate in Abu Dhabi complete this international selection, illustrating how contemporary architects transform city skylines through engineering feats that combine aesthetics with structural performance.
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