Liverpool Architecture Past and Present
St Georges Hall Designer: Harvey Lonsdale Elmes Built: 1854 Location: Lime Street/William Brown Street In the early 19th century, Liverpool held a four day music festival every three years in St Peters church. In 1836, the city felt a new hall was required to house this important event. Harvey Lonsdale Elmes, a 23 year old architect. A second competition was also held in the city for the new assize courts which Elmes also won. The Corporation decided to combine the two buildings. The finished building with its interior planning arranged around a central axis, combines the massiveness of a Roman bath with the delicacy of a Greek temple. The interior is dominated by the Great Hall with its red granite columns carrying a majestic vault. The tiled floor, which remains covered for the majority of the year, is of Minton tiles in a strong brown and blue colour. The small Concert Hall is considered by many to be the finest in the building. It consists of wood panelled walls, papier mache friezes, and a balcony carried by figures of maidens. The Hall is of considerable engineering interest in that it showed a close collaboration between the architect and heating engineer. From any early stage in the design process. The building opened in 1854 with a music festival extending over several days.
Location: Between William Brown Street and St Johns Lane St Johns Gardens takes its name from St Johns church which stood here from 1783 to 1887. Many French prisoners who were detained in Liverpool during the Napoleonic wars are buried in this churchyard. The former church site was laid out as terraced gardens by Thomas Shelmerdine, the City Surveyor and opened to the public in 1904. The gardens contain a number of monuments commemorating people associated with reforming some of the most pressing social problems of the 19th century. Gladstone Monument - erected in 1904, celebrates Gladstone the Liberal statesman and politician who was born in Rodney Street in 1809.Rathbone Monument - A member of the distinguished Liverpool family of social reformers. An MP for nearly 30 years, he was one of the founders of Liverpool University and pioneered Liverpool District Nursing.Forwood Monument - erected in 1903, this commemorates the Tory MP for Ormskirk who later became Secretary to the Admiralty. Balfour Monument - erected in 1889, Balfour was a Scot who championed neglected children. Lester Monument - a memorial to Canon Major Lester who championed neglected children. It was erected in 1906. Nugent Monument - Monsignor Nugent worked on behalf of neglected children and founded orphanages. Regimental Monument - Commemorates the South African War, it was erected in 1905. St John's gardens Designer: Thomas Shelmerdine Built: 1904
Location: Pierhead (Mersey Docks and Harbour Board Company building)designed in 1907 by Arnold Thornley, in collaboration with Briggs and Wolstenholme this is an impressive symmetrical building in the style of a renaissance palace with cupola topped towers at towers at the corners and in the centre a large classical dome, topping a high drum. It is has been suggested that the design for this was borrowed from a competition design for the Anglican Cathedral competition by Professor Reilly in 1902. The interior is well worth a visit. Port of Liverpool Building Designer: Arnold Thornley with Briggs and Wolstenholme Built: 1907
The Royal Liver Building Designer: W Aubrey Thomas Built: 1908-1911 Location: Pierhead Erected in 1908-11, the Liver Building is W Aubrey Thomas's main work. This massive structure is without counterpart in England and is one of the earliest examples of multi-storey reinforced concrete construction in the UK and the world. This form of construction, along with the development of the steel frame went on to make possible the development of skyscrapers. Not that this can be seen from the exterior. The side elevations are reminiscent of HH Rihardson's work in Chicago, yet other elevations are more eclectic in style from The sculptural domed clock towers are topped with the mythical Liver Birds. These were won in a competition by a German sculptor, Carl Bernard Bartels who had settled in England at the turn of the century. It is ironic that so little is known about the creator of such a potent symbol of city. It would appear that all references to his achievements were removed in a fit of xenophobia at the outbreak of the first World War.
Georges Dock Ventilation tower Designer: Herbert J Rowse Built: 1951-1952 Location: Mann Island, behind the Port of Liverpool Building A majestic and stately tower which hides one of the two main ventilation shafts for the Mersey Tunnels (the other being on the river bank opposite in Birkenhead). Designed by Herbert J Rowse along with the tunnel mouths, the tower was badly damaged in the war and was largely rebuilt by Rowse in 1951-2.
Lime Street Station Designer: John Fowler Built: 1836-1879 Location: Lime street (opposite St Georges Hall) The first station on this site was designed by John Fowler and was completed in 1836. It included a two storey masonry screen to Lime Street. In 1851, a second station was built which consisted of a train shed, an adjoining office building and the original masonry screen. The sheds were designed by Richard Turner and William Fairburn, the adjoining office block by William Tite. Part of Tites building can be seen fronting the service yard off Lord Nelson Street. The third station was started in 1867 and included the present northern arched train shed which, with a span of 200' was the largest in the world at the time. It was also the first shed in which iron was used throughout. The present parallel southern train shed was completed in 1879. it is notable in being of dry construction with each bay taking only three days to construct. The station has had two major renovations in recent times, the first a new ticket hall and office complex which unfortunately mask the views of the arches. The second a complete refurbishment of the glazed arched roof was completed this year (2001).
Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King Designer: Frederick Gibberd Built: 1967 Known locally as Paddy s Wigwam, this building has achieved the symbolism and occasional affection that benefits a city landmark. Raised on a podium, concrete frames define the nave space and rise to support the conical roof and lantern tower. Externally the most dominant feature, the tower, expresses the sanctuary as the most important space inside. Though it is not weathering well, which weakens its uncertain form, a view of the building has its moments off excitement and pleasure.
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Palmerston Special School Designer: Sir Norman Foster Built: 1975 After their successful involvment in the Special Care Unit st Hackney, the Spastics Society entered into a shared arrangement for aspecial school for handicapped children in Liverpool, to further and develop the ideas incorporated in the earlier project. The site planning concept at Liverpool was similar to that at Hacney, with publick and administration areas leading to activity space and, though a glazed screen, to a private outdoor play area. A series of lightweight liked steel portals were clad in bright yellow profiled asbestos cement sheeting with substantial top lighting by translucent fibreglass sections The open plan area was devided loosely into flexibly sized general teaching areas by two free-standing toilet service cores. Mobile, brightly coloured screens enabled smaller semi-private areas to be created within the multi-purpose space and there was a generous provision of play/therapy aids for the children.
Café Taste (Tate) Designer: Michael Wilford & co Built: 1998
Ricci Bar Designer: Shed KM Built: 1999
Kings Waterfront area Designer: several teams Built: hope not
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This transformat ion of a former Victorian school into a modern apartment block preserves a local landmark and adapts the building s historic fabric to a bold new use. Collegiate School Regeneration Designer: Shed KM Built: 1999
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Footbridge Designer: Eduard Ross Built: 2001 In February 2000, Eduard Ross won a competition for a new footbridge at Liverpool s Princes Dock. His scheme- a massive canted wishbone resting on steel ribs with a walkway running through them beat a number of established practices, yet he was still a final year student at the Centre for Architecture at Liverpool John Moores university.
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Millenium House Designer: Falconer Chester architects Built: 1999 A flagship office development within the Castle Street Conservation area of Liverpool. 126,000 sq.ft. of offices above a three storey basement carpark. Occupied on completion by the local authority, the combination of confident modern design alongside carefully restored listed facades reflects their ethos for the area
Chavasse Park Designer: Building Design partnership Built: 2007 Our approach has been one of the exciting urban fabric said BDP spokeswoman. The scheme is planned for completion at the end of 2007, which is the 800th anniversary of the city.