Editing Cunard Building

{{Short description|Building in Liverpool, England}}
{{distinguish|Cunard Building (New York City)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox building
| name       = Cunard Building
| image               = [[File:Cunard Building Front.jpg|240px]]
| caption             = 
| location            = [[Liverpool]], [[England]]
| map_type             = United Kingdom Liverpool Central
| map_alt              = 
| map_caption          =
| coordinates         = {{coord|53.4041|-2.9954|display=inline}}
| architect           = William Edward Willink and Philip Coldwell Thicknesse
| building_type       = [[Office#Office buildings|Office building]]
| architectural_style = [[Renaissance architecture|Italian Renaissance]] and [[Greek Revival]]
| structural_system   = [[Reinforced concrete]] with [[Portland stone]] cladding
| cost                = 
| owner               = Liverpool City Council
| current_tenants     = Variety of [[Public Sector|public]] and [[Private Sector|private]] sector firms
| start_date          = 1914
| completion_date     = 1917
| floor_area          = 
| main_contractor     = [[Holland, Hannen & Cubitts]]
| designations        = 
  {{Designation list
  | embed = yes
  | designation1 = Grade II* Listed Building
  | designation1_offname = Cunard Building
  | designation1_type =
  | designation1_criteria =
  | designation1_date = 12 July 1966
  | delisted1_date = 
  | designation1_partof =
  | designation1_number = {{NHLE|num=1052283|short=yes}}
  }}
}}

The '''Cunard Building''' is a [[Grade II*]] [[listed building]] in [[Liverpool]], [[England]]. It is located at the [[Pier Head]] and along with the neighbouring [[Royal Liver Building]] and [[Port of Liverpool Building]] is one of Liverpool's ''Three Graces'', which line the city's waterfront. It is also part of Liverpool's former [[UNESCO]] designated [[World Heritage Site|World Heritage]], the [[Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City|Maritime Mercantile City]].

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 [[Renaissance architecture|Italian Renaissance]] and [[Greek Revival]], and its development has been particularly influenced by Italian palace design. The building is noted for the ornate sculptures that adorn its sides.

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, Liverpool|Albion House]], the former headquarters of [[White Star Line]].

==History==
In 1914 the [[Cunard Steamship Company]] commissioned the construction of new headquarters for their company. Cunard's expansion meant that they had outgrown their previous offices, which were also in [[Liverpool]],<ref name=building>{{cite web |title=The building |publisher=[[CB Richard Ellis]] |year=2008 |url=http://www.cunardbuilding.com/ext_cunard_building/the_building |access-date=5 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007154830/http://www.cunardbuilding.com/ext_cunard_building/the_building |archive-date=7 October 2011  }}</ref> and the site chosen for construction was at the former [[George's Dock]], in between the [[Royal Liver Building]] and [[Port of Liverpool Building]].<ref name=construction>{{cite web |title=Building History |publisher=[[CB Richard Ellis]] |year=2008 |url=http://www.cunardbuilding.com/portal/page/portal/ext_cunard_building/the_building/building_history |access-date=4 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007154810/http://www.cunardbuilding.com/portal/page/portal/ext_cunard_building/the_building/building_history |archive-date=7 October 2011  }}</ref> The building was designed by the architects William Edward Willink and Philip Coldwell Thicknesse and was inspired by the grand [[palace]]s of [[Italian Renaissance|Renaissance Italy]]<ref name=Chambre>{{cite web |title=The Cunard Building |publisher=[[E Chambre Hardman]] Archive |url=http://www.mersey-gateway.org/server.php?show=ConWebDoc.1323 |access-date=5 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090102184352/http://www.mersey-gateway.org/server.php?show=ConWebDoc.1323 |archive-date=2 January 2009  }}</ref> – particularly the Farnese Palace at Rome.  It was constructed by [[Holland, Hannen & Cubitts]] between 1914 and 1917,<ref name="Cunard History at a Glance">{{cite web|title=Cunard History at a Glance |publisher=[[Cunard Line|Cunard]] |url=http://www.cunard.com/images/Content/History.pdf |access-date=15 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326230808/http://www.cunard.com/images/Content/History.pdf |archive-date=26 March 2009 }}</ref> with Arthur J. Davis, of Mewes and Davis, acting as consultant on the project.<ref name="Liverpool World Heritage">{{cite web|title=Cunard Building |publisher=Liverpool World Heritage |year=2008 |url=http://www.liverpoolworldheritage.com/visitingthewhs/areas/pierhead/cunardbuilding.asp |access-date=13 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828041858/http://www.liverpoolworldheritage.com/visitingthewhs/areas/pierhead/cunardbuilding.asp |archive-date=28 August 2008 }}</ref>

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 [[Transatlantic crossing|trans-Atlantic]] [[ocean liner]] industry.<ref name=Chambre/> 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.<ref name=building/> Many famous ships were developed and designed at the Cunard Building, including the [[RMS Queen Mary|RMS ''Queen Mary'']], [[RMS Queen Elizabeth|RMS ''Queen Elizabeth'']] and the [[Queen Elizabeth 2]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Cunard Building |publisher=Liverpool Architectural Society |url=http://www.liverpoolarchitecture.com/tours/buildings/building.php?id=19 |access-date=14 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071106085246/http://www.liverpoolarchitecture.com/tours/buildings/building.php?id=19 |archive-date=6 November 2007  }}</ref>

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.<ref name="Sharples (2004), p71">Sharples (2004), p71</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sailing on Saturday |publisher=[[National Museums Liverpool]] |url=http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime/exhibitions/newyork/day1.asp |access-date=17 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720072341/http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime/exhibitions/newyork/day1.asp |archive-date=20 July 2008  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/content/articles/2005/07/20/coast05walks_stage4.shtml|title=Coast Walk Stage 4: Cunard Building|publisher=BBC Liverpool|date=21 July 2005 |access-date=1 February 2008 }}</ref> The building also provided facilities for both land and sea-based Cunard employees.<ref name=building/>

During the [[World War II|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.<ref name=construction/>

The building remained the headquarters of Cunard until the 1960s, when they decided to relocate their UK operations to [[Southampton]] on England's south coast and their global headquarters to [[New York City|New York]].<ref name="Cunard History at a Glance" /> Cunard subsequently sold the building to [[Prudential plc]] in 1969. In 1965 the Cunard Building was awarded [[Grade II*]] [[listed building]] status by the [[English Heritage]]. Initially, it was listed together with the Royal Liver Building and the Port of Liverpool Building under Pier Head, but in 1985 each building gained its own listing.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1052283 |access-date=6 July 2009}}</ref> In November 2001 the building was sold to the Merseyside Pension Fund, an organisation providing pension services to public sector workers on Merseyside. Today, the building provides a range of office accommodation for a variety of public and private sector organisations. In November 2008 it was announced that the building managers had appointed the local architects firm Buttress Fuller Alsop Williams to draw up a conservation plan to preserve the building.<ref>{{cite web |last=McDonough |first=Tony |title=Rosy outlook for iconic Cunard Building |publisher=LDP Business |date=5 November 2008 |url=http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/liverpool-business-news/2008/11/05/rosy-outlook-for-iconic-cunard-building-96026-22185826/ |access-date=11 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201161007/http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/liverpool-business-news/2008/11/05/rosy-outlook-for-iconic-cunard-building-96026-22185826/ |archive-date=1 December 2008  }}</ref> The plan involved collaboration with English Heritage and the Local Authority Conservation Officer and would be used to control any modification and repairs made to the building.<ref>{{cite web |title=Architects planning ahead for landmark glory |publisher=Liverpool CDP |url=http://www.liverpoolcdp.com/news/shownews.asp?recordid=516 |access-date=9 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007171604/http://www.liverpoolcdp.com/news/shownews.asp?recordid=516 |archive-date=7 October 2011  }}</ref>

In October 2013, Liverpool City Council approved the acquisition of the Cunard Building for use as offices and as a [[Liverpool Cruise Terminal|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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cunard Building purchase plan agreed by Liverpool Council|publisher=BBC|date=11 October 2013|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-24496523 |access-date=6 November 2013}}</ref> The anticipated use as cruise terminal however had to be abandoned due to the high costs associated with security and border control.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Anderson|first1=Joe|title=Mayor's statement regarding the Cunard Building|url=http://www.liverpoolexpress.co.uk/mayors-statement-regarding-cunard-building/|website=Liverpool Express|date=14 October 2014|publisher=Liverpool City Council|access-date=31 May 2016}}</ref>

==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/>

==Cunard War Memorial==
[[Image:Royal Liver Building Cunard House memorial Liverpool.jpg|right|thumb|120px|The 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.<ref name=Quentin/> A [[Grade II]] [[Listed Building|listed]] [[monument]], it was designed by Arthur Davis, who acted as consultant during the construction of the Cunard Building itself. It was erected around 1920, although it wasn't officially unveiled until 1921, by the [[Earl of Derby]], [[Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby|Edward Stanley]]. Prior to being located at the [[Pier Head]], the monument had been exhibited at the [[Royal Academy of Arts]] in [[London]].<ref name=Memorial>{{cite web |title=Cunard War Memorial |publisher=Liverpool World Heritage |url=http://www.liverpoolworldheritage.com/visitingthewhs/areas/pierhead/cunardwarmemorial.asp |access-date=9 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828040806/http://www.liverpoolworldheritage.com/visitingthewhs/areas/pierhead/cunardwarmemorial.asp |archive-date=28 August 2008  }}</ref>

The monument consists of a large [[bronze]] [[statue]] that sits upon a [[Doric order|Doric]] style column, which is itself raised above the ground by a [[pedestal]] base.<ref name=Quentin/> The statue was sculpted by [[Henry Alfred Pegram]], whilst John Stubbs & Sons provided the stonework.<ref name=Memorial/> Due to the architects wishes that the monument be in keeping with the design of the Cunard Building, Davis designed the memorial to match the Greek features of building. The figure on top is of man, who is said to represent Victory, standing above the [[prow]] of a [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] ship. Around him there are other naval references including [[rope]]s, [[anchors]], and [[Seashell|shells]].<ref name=Memorial/> After the Second World War, the monument become dedicated to all Cunard employees who died in both wars. An inscription on the side of the memorial reads "''Pro Patria''", which is [[Latin]] for "For One's Country".

==See also==

*[[Architecture of Liverpool]]

==References==
'''Notes'''
{{reflist}}

'''Bibliography'''
*{{cite book |last=Sharples |first=Joseph |title=Pevsner Architectural Guides: Liverpool |publisher=[[Yale University Press]] |year=2004 |isbn=0-300-10258-5}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline}} 
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080828041858/http://www.liverpoolworldheritage.com/visitingthewhs/areas/pierhead/cunardbuilding.asp Liverpool World Heritage Site: Cunard Building]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/4737carlin/1250356032/ Flickr] interior
{{coord|53.4051|-2.9954|region:GB_type:landmark|display=title}}
{{Liverpool B&S}}

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[[Category:Grade II* listed buildings in Liverpool]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1917]]
[[Category:Italian Renaissance Revival architecture]]
[[Category:Greek Revival architecture in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Cunard Line]]