Cunard Building

All you want to know about Cunard Building

not to be confused with the 1921 Cunard Building (New York City)

Building
Cunard Building
Cunard Building as viewed from the River Mersey
Location	Liverpool, England
Owner	Merseyside Pension Fund
Construction
Started	1914
Completed	1917
Design team
Architect	William Edward Willink and Philip Coldwell Thicknesse

The Cunard Building is sited at the Pier Head in Liverpool, England. It was constructed by Holland, Hannen & Cubitts between 1914 and 1917 as the headquarters of Cunard Line.^[1] A Grade II* listed building, it is known as one of Liverpool's 'Three Graces'.

The design was by William Edward Willink and Philip Coldwell Thicknesse; Arthur J. Davis acted as a consultant. It is heavily influenced by Italian palace design. The building is constructed with reinforced concrete, clad in Portland stone. The Cunard Building is noted in Liverpool for its distinctive shape; it is 30ft wider at the back than the front.^[2] It is said to have been designed like this to resemble a boat, widening from prow to stern.

For many years the Cunard Building was the centre of the British trans-Atlantic ocean liner industry. It also served as a passenger terminal; consisting of a booking hall, waiting rooms, luggage facilities and a currency exchange.^[3] The building remained the headquarters of Cunard until the 1960s,^[1] when the company sold the building to Prudential plc and based itself entirely in Southampton.

Gallery

Cunard Building

References

^ ^a ^b "Cunard History at a Glance". Cunard. Retrieved 1 February 2008
^ "History of the Building". C.B. Richard Ellis. Retrieved 1 February 2008
^ "Coast Walk Stage 4: Cunard Building". BBC Liverpool (2005-07-21). Retrieved 1 February 2008