Absolute World
Absolute World is a residential condominium complex in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, featuring two iconic twisting skyscrapers known as the Absolute Towers or "Marilyn Monroe Towers" for their curvaceous, hourglass-like forms.[1][2] The development, part of the five-tower Absolute City Centre master-planned community, includes the 56-story Tower IV at 176 meters (578 feet) and the 50-story Tower V at 158 meters (518 feet), both constructed with innovative rotating floor plates—up to 8 degrees per floor in the taller tower—for an organic, aerodynamic silhouette.[1][3] Developed by Fernbrook Homes and Cityzen Development Group and completed in 2012, the towers incorporate advanced concrete construction techniques, including self-consolidating concrete and load-bearing walls, to support their fluid design while providing over 1,850 luxury residential units across the complex.[1][4] Designed by Beijing-based MAD Architects (lead by Ma Yansong) with Toronto's Burka Architects as the architect of record, Absolute World marked the first North American project for a Chinese architectural firm and reimagined urban high-rises as sculptural landmarks integrated into Mississauga's evolving skyline near Hurontario Street and Burnhamthorpe Road.[1][3] The towers have received prestigious accolades, including the 2012 Emporis Skyscraper Award for the world's best new tall building and the CTBUH Best Tall Building Award for the Americas, highlighting their blend of aesthetic innovation, structural engineering, and contribution to sustainable urban living.[2][1]Development
Site and Planning
Absolute World is situated at 50–60 Absolute Avenue in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, at the intersection of Hurontario Street and Burnhamthorpe Road, with geographic coordinates approximately 43.595°N, 79.635°W.[5][6] This location forms a core part of the Absolute City Centre, a master-planned five-tower residential complex designed to anchor urban revitalization in the area.[4][1] The site integrates into Mississauga's broader urban growth as a key suburb within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), where the city—Canada's sixth largest and one of its fastest-growing municipalities—has evolved from a post-war bedroom community into a diverse, multicultural economic hub.[1] Local zoning approvals facilitated this development through close collaboration between the City of Mississauga and the developers, including the city's involvement in the project's design competition and oversight to ensure alignment with the Mississauga Official Plan, which emphasizes structured growth in intensification corridors.[1][7] The site's positioning enhances connectivity to surrounding infrastructure, such as the Hurontario LRT transit line under development and nearby public parks like Kariya Park, promoting sustainable high-density living within walking distance of shopping districts and civic amenities.[1][7] Developers Fernbrook Homes and Cityzen Development Group envisioned Absolute World as a landmark for high-density residential living, aiming to infuse distinctive architectural character into Mississauga's downtown skyline while accommodating approximately 1,850 units across the complex to meet rising urban housing demands.[1][4] Central to this vision is a shared 2,800 m² (30,000 sq ft) recreation centre offering amenities for community wellness, complemented by six underground parking levels per tower to support resident convenience without compromising street-level aesthetics.[6][1] This planning approach prioritized innovative urbanism, with the international design competition—won by MAD Architects—selected to realize these goals.[1]Design Selection
In 2006, developers Fernbrook Homes and Cityzen Development Group organized the first international design competition for a high-rise residential tower in the Greater Toronto Area in over four decades, attracting more than 600 expressions of interest and 92 submissions from architects across 70 countries.[1][8] The competition, held in partnership with the City of Mississauga, involved a judging panel of nine internationally renowned architects and urban planners, supplemented by public input through an exhibition that garnered over 6,000 votes from local residents.[8][9] The winning entry was submitted by Beijing-based MAD Architects, led by Ma Yansong, Dang Qun, and Yosuke Hayano, whose proposal featured two twisting towers with non-orthogonal, fluid forms that rotated up to 8 degrees per floor, departing radically from conventional boxy skyscrapers.[8][1] This design was unanimously selected by the jury for its innovative organic aesthetic, which promised to create a striking urban landmark, foster community engagement, and challenge the rigid geometries typical of North American high-rises, while aligning with developer goals for market appeal and public acclaim.[1][10] Mississauga's mayor at the time praised it as a visionary project that would elevate the city's architectural profile.[8] Following the selection, MAD Architects served as the lead design firm, collaborating with Toronto-based Burka Architects as the architect of record to adapt the concept for local building codes, site conditions, and regulatory requirements, ensuring seamless integration into the existing Absolute City Centre development.[1][11] This partnership combined MAD's bold conceptual vision with Burka's expertise in practical execution, facilitating approvals and construction feasibility.[12]Architecture
Tower Specifications
The Absolute World complex consists of two residential towers designed for high-density urban living. The south tower, located at 60 Absolute Avenue and also known as Absolute World Tower 1 or the Marilyn Monroe Tower 56, rises to an architectural height of 175.6 meters (576 feet) and comprises 56 floors above ground, with 6 below. It houses 427 residential units and is equipped with 6 elevators.[13] The north tower at 50 Absolute Avenue, referred to as Absolute World Tower 2 or the Marilyn Monroe Tower 50, reaches 157.9 meters (518 feet) in height with 50 floors above ground and 6 below. This structure contains 453 units and also features 6 elevators.[14] Across both towers, the approximately 880 units range from studios to multi-bedroom configurations, catering to diverse resident needs in a luxury condominium setting.[15][16] Residents share access to a three-story recreation centre spanning 3,252 square meters, which includes amenities such as an indoor pool, gym, and party rooms tailored to the residential focus of the development.[1]| Specification | South Tower (60 Absolute Ave) | North Tower (50 Absolute Ave) |
|---|---|---|
| Height (architectural) | 175.6 m (576 ft) | 157.9 m (518 ft) |
| Floors (above ground) | 56 | 50 |
| Units | 427 | 453 |
| Elevators | 6 | 6 |