U2 Tower, Cancelled skyscraper project in Dublin Docklands, Ireland.
The U2 Tower was designed to be a 120-meter tall building with a distinctive form by Foster and Partners for Dublin's docklands. A recording studio at its summit would have marked the skyline across from Sir John Rogerson's Quay.
The project began with a competition in 2002 that drew 530 international entries, organized by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority. Construction was set to start in 2008 but was halted by the economic downturn in the early 2010s.
The project tied together Dublin's music scene, with U2 involved in the planning and a recording studio intended for the summit. This connection between urban development and local music culture shaped the tower's vision in the city.
The project was never built, so there is no physical site to visit, but plans and renderings are available online and in archive collections. To see the harbor area and the intended location, you can explore the neighborhood around Sir John Rogerson's Quay.
The design emerged after U2 were forced to surrender their existing studio through compulsory purchase, drawing them into the new development. This unusual arrangement made the project a distinctive case of urban renewal in Ireland.
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