1969 – Shopping Centre, Phibsborough, Dublin

Almost universally disliked by the public as it dominates the area, an office tower with a strip mall and parking as a podium. The exterior precast panels alternate, with recessing panels on the tower and the podium panels protruding, creating an interesting contrast in surfaces.

Developers bought the site in 1962, but construction didn’t start until 1967 when a row of Victorian cottages were demolished to make way for building. The developers told The Irish Times, “We knocked on the doors of the 21 single-storey sad and depressing cottages, which had been dying for over 50 years. Their most modern amenity was a toilet at the rear of the garden.” Described in 1969 as a “trend setting development”, the accommodation was listed by The Irish Times as “32,280 sq. ft office building, supermarket, department stores, 12 shops, 5 service shops”. Officially opened on 24th October 1969, it originally included a Powers Supermarket (later Quinnsworth) and a Pennys, now both units are Tesco. Tesco’s ownership of their property has resisted several attempts to redevelop the building.

In 2018 planning permission to redevelop the 1960s complex was granted, long regarded as an eyesore in the area, for student accommodation. This development would have provided accommodation for 341 students at the site, but never was followed through on.