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Port of Liverpool Building

Edwardian architectureGrade II* listed buildings in LiverpoolOffice buildings completed in 1907Port of LiverpoolRestored and conserved buildings
Tourist attractions in Liverpool
Port of Liverpool building 2012 05 27 (5)
Port of Liverpool building 2012 05 27 (5)

The Port of Liverpool Building (formerly Mersey Docks and Harbour Board Offices, more commonly known as the Dock Office) 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 Cunard Building, is one of Liverpool's Three Graces, which line the city's waterfront. It is also part of Liverpool's formerly UNESCO-designated World Heritage Maritime Mercantile City. The building was designed by Sir Arnold Thornely and F.B. Hobbs and was developed in collaboration with Briggs and Wolstenholme. It was constructed between 1904 and 1907, with a reinforced concrete frame that is clad in Portland Stone. The building was the headquarters of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board (MDHB) for 87 years, from 1907 to 1994, when the company relocated to new premises at Seaforth Dock. In 2001 it was sold to Downing, a Liverpool-based property developer, and between 2006 and 2009 underwent a major £10m restoration that restored many original features of the building.The Port of Liverpool Building is in the Edwardian Baroque style and is noted for the large dome that sits atop it, acting as the focal point of the building. It is approximately rectangular in shape with canted corners that are topped with stone cupolas. At 220 feet (67 m) the building was the tallest building in Liverpool when built, and as of 2022 is the fourteenth tallest. Like the neighbouring Cunard Building, it is noted for the ornamental detail both on the inside and out, and in particular for the many maritime references and expensive decorative furnishings.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Port of Liverpool Building (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Port of Liverpool Building
Mann Island, Liverpool Ropewalks

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Wikipedia: Port of Liverpool BuildingContinue reading on Wikipedia

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Latitude Longitude
N 53.4043 ° E -2.9949 °
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Port of Liverpool Building

Mann Island
L3 1NW Liverpool, Ropewalks
England, United Kingdom
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Port of Liverpool building 2012 05 27 (5)
Port of Liverpool building 2012 05 27 (5)
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Fourth Grace

The Fourth Grace was a planned development to be built on the Liverpool Pier Head, as a part of the Liverpool European Capital of Culture 2008 bid. The project name was derived from its location adjacent to the three historic buildings at the Pier Head site, known as "the Three Graces". These are the Port of Liverpool Building, the Cunard Building and the Royal Liver Building. Four proposals were submitted, all of which received criticism for their appearance and contrast to the city's famed historic skyline. 'Fourth Grace Foster' (seen as one of the most likely developments for the site, and named after architects Foster and Partners), comprised a triangular 145 m (476 ft) tower (which would have completely overshadowed the Three Graces), containing some 500 apartments alongside a 100-room 5-star hotel, and a block designed to resemble the hull of a ship extending out over the river. The development would have contained office space and a museum site. 'Fourth Grace Rogers', by the Richard Rogers Partnership, comprised two towers (1 and 2) of 125 m (410 ft) and 94 m (308 ft) respectively, and a mixed-use centre under an undulating roof. 'Fourth Grace 1 Cullinan', proposed by Edward Cullinan Architects, comprised two 135 m (443 ft) mixed use buildings, and a globe-shaped 1000-seat theatre. 'Fourth Grace Towers', a more conceptual design from architect firm Alsop, comprised a Zoomorphic style 118.50 m (389 ft) tower with residential, office and retail space, and a balloon-shaped structure (“the Cloud”) containing the museum site.Public consultation found the Cullinan design to be the favourite, while the Alsop design was the least popular amongst the public and in a survey of architects. Despite this, Alsop's 'Cloud' was the winning entry. However, it was beset with difficulties, and was cancelled in 2004 due to spiralling costs. Currently, it has been relocated to Toronto, Canada, where preliminary construction work is being undertaken.All ideas were eventually scrapped in favour of the Mann Island Development, comprising the new Museum of Liverpool, the Liverpool Canal Link, and three modernist mixed-use private enterprise blocks, the Mann Island Buildings.