U2 Tower Competition

Architectural
Competition for
Landmark Tower/U2
Studio
in a Mixed
Development
at Britain Quay,
Dublin

with Simona Valentin
and Cesare Torno

Dublin, Ireland
2003

The project was
shortlisted
for exhibition

The building is seen
as an active
participant to the
public life, and not
only as part of its
background. The
public stair
transforms part of
its platform element
in an extension of
the waterfront
promenade. It
provides a strong,
clear access to the
night club and the
bar, and transforms
the terrace of the 4th
floor in an
observation deck
above Liffey River.

The main component
of the facade is a
curtain wall having
attached, on its
exterior, a grill of
horizontal terracotta
elements mounted
on a metallic structure.
This ‘brick grill’
preserves the view from
the inside, while
creating a dynamic and
unitary
‘half-transparency’
effect from the exterior
with strong esthetical
benefits.

The entrances to the
public functions are
organised around the
public stair which forms
the core of the building’s
platform element,
with the exception of
the restaurant which is
accessible from both the
waterfront promenade
and Britain Quay.
The tower’s floors are
seen primary as office
spaces, but their size
and features make
possible their use for
residential purposes
as well.

The concrete walls
encompassing the
public stair form the
structural core of the
platform element of the
building. They wrap
around the northern
extremity of the
building to form the
two concrete elements
which further up
become the structure
of the tower.