This is the proposal for a competition (2003) to design a landmark tower which was supposed to house U2’s state of the art recording studio. The construction of the winning project designed by Foster + Partners is expected to begin in 2009.

From Ofis:

‘The building occupies the whole site.

As a continuous programmatic strip the volume bends 3-dimensionally into the shape of complex sculpture – that can also be identified as overlapping letters of U and 2: this produces a landmark of the new city quay and introduces a complex interior which is clearly visible from all exterior views .

By bending rather than breaking the space offers spatial transitions of the inside spaces that is able to inhabit complex and communicative interior spaces. The glazed façade that follows the volume acts as mirror in the daylight – the bend-glazed surfaces will brake the light and offer combination of reflections of clouds, river and surrounding. In the night the lights inside the building will create a performance of people inhabiting the space to those passing by. By introducing internal double spaces such as shared atriums, galleries and viewing platforms the interior space is divided into several sections. This concept offers great spatial and environmental diversity – the different programs are connected but yet can be totally isolated.’

More information and pictures: www.ofis-a.si.

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1. The U2 Tower // Dublin // Ireland // Foster + Partners
2. Lace Apartments // Nova Gorica // Slovenia // Ofis Arhitekti
3. Tetris Apartments // Ljubljana // Slovenia // Ofis Arhitekti
4. Izola Social Housing // Izola // Slovenia // OFIS Arhitekti
5. Curly Villages // Graz // Austria // Ofis Arhitekti