Tara Tower
A Mixed-Use Landmark on the River Liffey
Too often towers are only considered in the skyline, but for a city like Dublin, where active street life is an urban ambition of the municipality, the reading of soffits of the building is equally important. There is an opportunity to create an interplay of timber facade elements and the overall greening of outdoor spaces to create further interest in the finer grain reading of the facade.
-
Tara Tower is a new mixed-use high-rise proposal in Dublin, positioned along the River Liffey and adjacent to Trinity College. Designed as a vertical extension of the city’s active urban fabric, the project combines co-working, residential, hotel, and public functions within a cohesive architectural framework.
Rather than focusing solely on skyline presence, the design emphasises the human-scale experience of the building—particularly at street level and along its soffits. Through the integration of timber façade elements and planted terraces, the tower introduces warmth, texture, and greenery, enriching both close-up and distant views.
The development builds on the existing Tara Building site, retaining its role as a hub for co-working and creative industries while expanding its programme. A dynamic podium anchors the project, housing a market hall, flexible workspaces, and public amenities that activate the ground plane and create a vibrant social destination connected to Tara Street Station and the surrounding city.
Above the podium, the programme transitions vertically: co-working spaces give way to an aparthotel and restaurant with views over the River Liffey, followed by multiple levels of build-to-rent residential units. Rooftop amenities and shared terraces offer panoramic views across Dublin, reinforcing a strong connection between living, working, and the urban landscape.
The tower’s form is defined by a subtle “peeling” gesture that opens toward the river, creating terraces and enhancing views while shaping a distinctive architectural identity. At podium level, the façade responds to the surrounding context by stepping and angling to align with neighbouring buildings, while introducing a contemporary expression through vertical articulation and material contrast.
Materiality plays a key role in establishing the building’s character. Warm, tactile finishes at ground level and along soffits create an inviting atmosphere, supporting the project’s ambition to function as an inclusive, collaborative environment within the city.
Tara Tower represents a new model for mixed-use development in Dublin—one that balances density with public life, integrates diverse programmes, and contributes to a more vibrant and connected riverfront.
-
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Areas: 14,000 m² / 150,694 ft², 119 residential units, 73 hotel rooms
Client: Greybirch
Themes: Mixed-use | High-rise | Retail | Office | Hotel | Residential | Timber
Collaborators: RKD | Renders by Moare
