tower eight | competition entry.

During my year out, I collaborated with coursemates on this Young Architects Competition entry, allowing us to reignite our creative process and prepare for our return to fourth year.

 

Inspired by the historic “Seven Castles of Kells,” Tower 8 reinterprets medieval defensive towers through a contemporary architectural lens. The design embraces the Gothic aspiration for height, using modern construction to create a landmark that respects and elevates its historical context.

 

Extruded from the courtyard footprint, a space once dedicated to knowledge-sharing, Tower 8 maintains minimal ground contact, allowing the ruins to breathe while offering visitors new spatial experiences. Elevated walkways weave through the site, fostering a dialogue between past and present.

 

Designed as a dynamic cultural hub, the tower features flexible creative spaces, including a reception, studios, library, museum, gallery, café, indoor theatre, and roof terrace. A central void connects floors, enhancing natural light and spatial flow, while public and private zones support both solitary work and collaboration.

 

A polycarbonate façade contrasts the light, translucent structure with the solid stone ruins, glowing at night to blur the line between old and new. Artist residences within the footprints of the original towers reinforce the historical typology, offering a dedicated space for artistic practice and exchange.

 

By honouring the past while embracing modernity, Tower 8 creates a meaningful architectural intervention, where history and contemporary design converge.