Editing Cunard Building (section)

==Architectural design==
[[Image:Cunard House Liverpool window.jpg|right|thumb|170px|One of the faces of the world representing the global nature of Cunard's operations]]
The Cunard Building's architectural style can be generally described as a mix of [[Renaissance architecture|Italian Renaissance]]<ref name=Quentin>{{cite book |last=Hughes |first=Quentin |title=Liverpool: City of Architecture |publisher=[[Bluecoat Press]] |year=1999 }}</ref> and [[Greek Revival]],<ref name=Chambre/> with a degree of [[Beaux-Arts architecture|Beaux-Arts]] influence on the building's structural form.<ref name="Liverpool World Heritage"/> Willink and Caldwell's designs were heavily influenced by the work of [[Italians|Italian]] [[architect]] [[Baldassare Peruzzi]] and more broadly Italian Renaissance palace design in general,<ref name=Quentin/> with the [[Farnese Palace]] in [[Rome]] believed to have been particularly influential.<ref name=construction/> Despite the strong Italian influence, the architects chose to introduce Greek style for the details around the building itself and, as the building itself is larger than the Italian palaces that provided its inspiration, its structural form was prominently based upon [[Beaux-Arts architecture#Beaux-Arts in the United States|American]] [[Beaux-Arts architecture|Beaux-Arts]] buildings such as those in [[New York City|New York]].<ref name="Liverpool World Heritage"/><ref name=Quentin/>

The Cunard Building is approximately rectangular in shape, with nine [[Bay (architecture)|bays]] on the east and west sides, and seventeen bays on the north and south sides. However, as it was constructed after the [[Royal Liver Building]] and [[Port of Liverpool Building]] on either side of it, space limitations meant that the east (landward) side was actually built {{convert|30|feet|m|0}} wider than the west.<ref name=construction/> The central bays on each side provide the main entrance points into the building. Each entrance consists or a large [[panelled]] [[oak]] door, adorned by a pair of [[Classical order|fluted columns]] and with a [[coffered ceiling]].<ref name="Liverpool World Heritage"/> The Cunard Building stands six [[storeys]] tall and has two basement levels. Due to its construction on the site of the former [[George's Dock]], part of the original dock wall is still visible in the eastern boundary of the first basement level.<ref name=construction/>

[[Image:Cunard House cornice Liverpool.jpg|left|thumb|The Cunard Building is adorned by several highly detailed sculptures, including this one depicting a rampant lion, raised on its hind legs]]
The frame of the building was constructed from [[reinforced concrete]], which was then clad in [[Portland stone]].<ref name=Quentin/> Several highly detailed sculptures adorn the outside of the building, including ones of [[Britannia]] and [[Neptune (mythology)|Neptune]], as well as others representing peace, war, and storms.<ref name="Liverpool World Heritage"/> There are also sculptures of the [[Zodiac]] and the [[coat of arms]] of the [[United Kingdom]]'s [[Allies of World War I|allies]] during [[World War I]].<ref name="Sharples (2004), p71"/> Another series of sculptures on the building depict different [[Race (classification of human beings)|races]] from around the world, which reflect the global operations of the Cunard company.<ref name="Liverpool World Heritage"/> [[Marble]] was used to furnish several parts of the inside of the building, particularly on the ground floor corridors that link the north and south entrances. It was imported from several locations in [[Italy]] and [[Greece]], including [[Attica]], [[Carrara]], and Arni Alto.<ref name=construction/>

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 [[board room]], located in a 'commanding' position on the fifth floor, overlooking the river below.<ref name=construction/>

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. [[Coal]] was also stored in the basement, with a small railway track providing a link to the [[boiler room (building)|boiler room]], which was used to heat the building. Many original features of the basement still exist, including the timber baggage racks, [[Logbook|ship logs]] and other maritime documents. Several secure [[Bank vault|vaults]], originally used to store the most valuable passenger items, are still used today to hold historic documents, drawings and [[blueprints]] relating to the Cunard Building and also some of Cunard's ships, such as the [[RMS Queen Mary|RMS ''Queen Mary'']].<ref name=construction/>