In the early 1970s, architect Sam Stephenson designed a building that Dublin had never seen before. Instead of rising from the ground up, the tower was built from the top down. The roof was constructed first, and the floors were hung from it using 168 Macalloy bars stretching nearly five kilometres in total.
Only around 20 buildings in the world use this engineering method.
The result was a Brutalist landmark that appeared to float above the plaza. Completely column-free, bold, and decades ahead of its time. For years, it served as Ireland’s Central Bank, a symbol of ambition and modernity.
Today, the building has been restored and reimagined. Its original structure has been preserved, its purpose transformed, and its rooftop opened to the city for the very first time.
