The Three Graces, Historic English Building, Architects, Photos, Architecture, Dates

The Three Graces Liverpool

Neoclassical Liverpool Buildings, England, UK – Historic Architecture Information

3 Mar 2018

Three Graces Renovation

The Cunard Building

Refurbishment and conversion of an historic, Grade II-listed building.

The Cunard is described as one of Liverpool’s most iconic buildings. Built in 1917, the six-storey construction not only provided sanctuary as a Second World War air-raid shelter, its dockside location also made it an ideal site for ship building blueprints and luggage storage.

Following its conversion into high-end office blocks, a survey of the building revealed issues with the roof and basement.

photograph courtesy of Sika

At the top of the building, aged asphalt patches with varying level changes and multiple cases of cracking, slumping and blistering were identified.

Meanwhile, in the basement soffits, beams and columns located in its sub-basement began to show signs of deterioration. Carbonation and chloride levels in the concrete led to the reinforcement bars becoming exposed in areas, leading to surface cracking and spalling. Sika had the ideal solutions for both problems.

Designed Roof Systems Ltd was given the task of solving the roofing issues. They specified a 20-year Decothane system in light grey with red walkways.

Clan Contracting were instructed to carry out the basement’s concrete repair and began by removing the cracked and delaminated concrete and cleaning the areas in preparation for the application of Sika’s reinforcement system.

The top and bottom of the landmark Cunard building has been improved, leaving a well-protected, structurally-sound belowground floor and water-tight, visually-pleasing roof.

26 Nov 2008

The Three Graces

Night aerial photograph by webbaviation
26 Nov 2008

photograph © webbaviation

Royal Liver Building; Cunard Building; Port of Liverpool Building

photo © webbaviation

Royal Liver Building, Pier Head
Date: 1908-11
Design: W Aubrey Thomas, Architect

photos © Adrian Welch, Oct 2007

Cunard Building, Pier Head
Date: 1918
Willink and Thicknesse, Architects

The middle building of the Three Graces
Tel 0151 236 6407
enquiries@cunard-building.co.uk
Cunard Building – Website: www.cunard-building.co.uk

Port of Liverpool Building Pier Head
Date: 1907
Arnold Thornley with Briggs & Wolstenholme, Architects

Liverpool waterfront buildings : photo © tim collins

Liverpool Three Graces from the Mersey: photo © Tim Collins

Three Graces neighbour : Pierhead – Museum of Liverpool, Mann Island site

photo © webbaviation

image : 3 x Nielsen Architects

The Three Graces seen from the east:

Photograph © Adrian Welch

Context for The Three Graces:

The Fourth Grace – beautiful Egyptian-style Mersey Tunnel building, stunning:

George’s Pier Head is a riverside location in the city centre of Liverpool. It is part of the Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was inscribed in 2004. As well as a collection of landmark buildings, recreational open space, and a number of memorials, the Pier Head was (and for some traffic still is) the landing site for passenger ships travelling to and from the city.

The Three Graces context : White Star Line building

The site encompasses a trio of landmarks, built on the site of the former George’s Dock and referred to since at least 1998 as “The Three Graces”:
– Royal Liver Building, built between 1908 and 1911 and designed by Walter Aubrey Thomas. It is a grade I listed building consisting of two clock towers, both crowned by mythical Liver Birds. The building is the headquarters of the Royal Liver Friendly Society.
– Cunard Building, constructed 1914-16 and a grade II* listed building. It is the former headquarters of the Cunard Line shipping company.
– Port of Liverpool Building, built from 1903 to 1907 and also grade II* listed. It is the former home of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board.

Other examples of Liverpool Architecture welcome: info(at)e-architect.com