Cunard Building
Cunard Building | |
---|---|
Portland Stone cladding | |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | William Edward Willink and Philip Coldwell Thicknesse |
Main contractor | Holland, Hannen & Cubitts |
Designations | |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
Official name | Cunard Building |
Designated | 12 July 1966 |
Reference no. | 1052283 |
The Cunard Building is a
It was designed by William Edward Willink and Philip Coldwell Thicknesse and was constructed between 1914 and 1917. The building's style is a mix of
The building was, from its construction until the 1960s, the headquarters of the Cunard Line, and the building still retains the name of its original owner. It was also home to Cunard's passenger facilities for trans-Atlantic journeys departing from Liverpool. Today, the building is owned by Liverpool City Council and is home to numerous public and private sector organisations, including The British Music Experience. It is located diagonally across the Strand from Albion House, the former headquarters of White Star Line.
History
In 1914 the
In 1934 the Cunard Steamship Company merged with the White Star Line to form Cunard White Star Line, becoming the largest passenger steamship company in the world and helping to make Liverpool one of the most important centres of the British trans-Atlantic ocean liner industry.[3] The Cunard building subsequently acted as the central headquarters for the newly merged firm, with both administrative and ship-designing facilities located within the building.[1] Many famous ships were developed and designed at the Cunard Building, including the RMS Queen Mary, RMS Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Elizabeth 2.[6]
Given that Liverpool was a major trans-Atlantic port, and due to the building's proximity to the River Mersey, the lower floors of the Cunard Building were allocated to provide space for liner passengers, both before and after sailing.[7] Within the building were passenger facilities, including separate waiting rooms for first, second and third class passengers, a booking hall, luggage storage space, and a currency exchange.[8][9] The building also provided facilities for both land and sea-based Cunard employees.[1]
During the Second World War, the sub-basement level of the Cunard Building was used as an air raid shelter for workers in the building and also for those from adjacent premises. The basement levels also served as the central Air Raid Precautions headquarters for the City of Liverpool during the war. Additional reinforced steel joists were fitted to further strengthen the basement in case of a direct hit on the building.[2]
The building remained the headquarters of Cunard until the 1960s, when they decided to relocate their UK operations to
In October 2013, Liverpool City Council approved the acquisition of the Cunard Building for use as offices and as a cruise liner terminal. The Council projected that the building would accommodate 1,000 staff relocated from Millennium House and leases in the Capital Building, saving an estimated £1.3 million.[13] The anticipated use as cruise terminal however had to be abandoned due to the high costs associated with security and border control.[14]
Architectural design
The Cunard Building's architectural style can be generally described as a mix of
The Cunard Building is approximately rectangular in shape, with nine
The frame of the building was constructed from
As the initial usage of the Cunard Building was mixed, there are a variety of features within the building that reflect the original purposes of different areas within. Initially, Cunard's administration facilities were located on the upper floors and due to the necessity for large amounts of light in the design facilities, these rooms where developed to include both toplights in the roof and also large windows to maximise the amount of natural light. Another feature are the high quality and ornate fittings present in what was once the first class passenger lounge, located on the first floor. These fittings are also present in the former
Among the most notable features of the Cunard Building are the large basement and sub-basement levels that initially acted as storage facilities for both the Company's property and also the luggage of passengers.
Cunard War Memorial
The Cunard War Memorial is located on the west side of the Cunard Building and was erected in memory of the Cunard employees who were killed during the First World War, and later the Second World War.
The monument consists of a large
See also
References
Notes
- ^ CB Richard Ellis. 2008. Archived from the originalon 7 October 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
- ^ CB Richard Ellis. 2008. Archived from the originalon 7 October 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
- ^ E Chambre Hardman Archive. Archived from the originalon 2 January 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
- ^ a b "Cunard History at a Glance" (PDF). Cunard. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f "Cunard Building". Liverpool World Heritage. 2008. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
- ^ "Cunard Building". Liverpool Architectural Society. Archived from the original on 6 November 2007. Retrieved 14 June 2009.
- ^ a b Sharples (2004), p71
- ^ "Sailing on Saturday". National Museums Liverpool. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
- ^ "Coast Walk Stage 4: Cunard Building". BBC Liverpool. 21 July 2005. Retrieved 1 February 2008.
- ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1052283)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
- ^ McDonough, Tony (5 November 2008). "Rosy outlook for iconic Cunard Building". LDP Business. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2009.
- ^ "Architects planning ahead for landmark glory". Liverpool CDP. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
- ^ "Cunard Building purchase plan agreed by Liverpool Council". BBC. 11 October 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
- ^ Anderson, Joe (14 October 2014). "Mayor's statement regarding the Cunard Building". Liverpool Express. Liverpool City Council. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f Hughes, Quentin (1999). Liverpool: City of Architecture. Bluecoat Press.
- ^ a b c "Cunard War Memorial". Liverpool World Heritage. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
Bibliography
- Sharples, Joseph (2004). Pevsner Architectural Guides: Liverpool. ISBN 0-300-10258-5.
External links
Media related to Cunard Building at Wikimedia Commons
53°24′18″N 2°59′43″W / 53.4051°N 2.9954°W