New U2 Studio in Dublin Docklands

[Paul Clerkin]

LANDMARK TOWER DEVELOPMENT TO CREATE A NEW GATEWAY TO THE CITY

The Dublin Docklands Development Authority has today issued a brief for an Architectural Concept Competition to design a 60 metre landmark tower at the riverside in Dublin’s Docklands. The tower is to include an exclusive recording studio for rock band U2 on it’s top two floors.

The band has been in discussion with the Docklands Authority on this project since last year when the Authority sought to purchase the current studio at Hanover Quay to allow public amenity works relating to the Grand Canal Harbour development.

Peter Coyne, CEO of the Docklands Authority stated: “We proposed the landmark tower in the Grand Canal Docks Area Planning Scheme in 2000 and are more than delighted that the band has taken the top floors as that can only add to the significance of the landmark. Indeed it adds to the significance of the whole area. We are operating the competition to procure a concept design which can then be taken forward with the development market.”

A spokesperson for the band said: “We are proud to be a Dublin band. We did not want to break our strong association with the Docklands and this development gives us the opportunity to secure the unique nature of accommodation we need in a truly remarkable and exciting way.”

The competition, which has been prepared in association with the RIAI, is open internationally and architects are required to prepare concept proposals for a slim “point” block over four more substantial floors providing recording studios, offices and ground floor bar/restaurant/entertainment venue. Architects will submit their proposals to the scrutiny of a jury put together by the Docklands Authority. The band will nominate a member to be one of the jury.

The development will be enclosed by the public riverside amenity strip (campshire) which the Docklands Authority is developing on both sides of the Liffey between Matt Talbot Bridge and the East Link Bridge. The campshire on Sir John Rogerson’s Quay is currently being landscaped as public space.

“The riverside areas of the Docklands are undergoing massive physical changes and the river is beginning to come back to life. This development will be the first at this end of Sir John Rogerson’s Quay and will create a new landmark gateway to the city”, added Mr. Coyne.

[ew]

Exciting competition though isn't it? I hope there's loads of brilliant entries. Here's where it'll go:



It's a good deal for U2 - the top 2 stories and Bono said at the conference that it won't cost them at all! Still it'll make it easy to direct tourists to - it was hard to give clear direction to windmill lane and you often see lost looking fans down townsend and lime st. This one will be hard to miss!

[Rita Ochoa]

Can someone please tell me where I can oficial and detailed information about this competition (online).

Thanks in advanced,

Rita

[Paul Clerkin]

See

http://www.archiseek.com/content/showthread.php?s=&postid=8808#post8808

[Paul Clerkin]

Details now available
http://www.archiseek.com/content/showthread.php?s=&postid=9029#post9029

[Rory W]

Hooray for Bono and his pals getting space for free at one of the most important sites in Dublin - that'll do his ego no harm...

[farazarchi]

damn....100u....alot of money for registeration?they need concept but they wana money.....
free concept so no expence for designing
....it is somehow frauding.....

[Peter Fitz]

at 60 meters, its only going to be a few feet higher than liberty hall, not much to get excited about :-(

[GregF]

All these tall buildings planned for Dublin........just hope the Dublin Fire Brigade has adequate extension ladders in case a fire breaks out on the top floors. Could be disasterous, such inadequate thinking......may lead to more tribunals.

[Rita Ochoa]

Is there some reason with Ireland doesn't want to have HIGH buildings ?...

[fjp]

we're backward?

[Rita Ochoa]

Maybe it's just a cultural aspect... Your cities are very "horizontal" and no one there likes living on appartments!... just don't blame it on the earthquakes 'cause u don't have them!

[Rita Ochoa]

What's happening aroung the site proposed in the competition ? The Docklands website is very vague...

[deepnote]

hey I'm thinking a very tall Capital Records Building (the LA landmark)...

[Rita Ochoa]

Where were the old studios ? Can i see a picture of it ? is it demolished already ?

[rperse]

At last something of significant height in the Docklands. The existing quayside developments and proposed

[rperse]

contd.. Spencer Dock, while impressive in their own right, have not taken advantage of the possibility of building beyond the 5 storey norm. looking downstream from O'Connell Bridge it would be nice to see some evidence of this new "World class city quarter" and not just a view blocked by that awful loopline bridge.

[GregF]

Even Frank McDonald says much the same in todays Irish Times............it has the potential as I have said before on countless times of being a morass of mediocre mundanity. There's alliteration for ye.

[Rita Ochoa]

I'll try again...

What's happening aroung the site proposed in the competition ? The Docklands website is very vague...
Where were the old studios ? Can i see a picture of it ? is it demolished already ?

[Rita Ochoa]

What is this ?
Was there a previous competition ?

http://www.skyscrapers.com/english/worldmap/building/0.9/139187/index.html

[Andrew Duffy]

That's a different building in the same general area. It is approved, but the company that owns the site is the subject of a messy takeover campaign at the moment.

http://www.ddda.ie/uploads/pdfs/aerial%20shots.pdf

The highlighted site is for the U2 building, the large empty site for the building you posted the link to. I believe the existing U2 studio is in one of the unpleasant warehouses towards the top left of the picture. The city is off in the direction of the top right; so if both buildings are built the larger one will obscure the "landmark" U2 tower.