Oriel Chambers
Encyclopedia
Oriel Chambers is the world's first metal framed glass curtain walled
building. Designed by architect Peter Ellis
and built in 1864, it comprises 43000 sq ft (3,994.8 m²) set over five floors. A Grade 1 Listed Building, it is located on Water Street near to the town hall in Liverpool
, England
.
Oriel Chambers, and the architect's only other known building at 16 Cook Street
, are amongst the city's precursors of modernist architecture. However its simplified forms and large windows meant that the building initially courted controversy, being described as "an agglomeration of great glass bubbles" and even "a great abortion" which led to the disheartened Ellis abandoning architecture.
Today it looks a little different, combining its period architecture with a 1950s extension, which was added to the building after it was bombed during World War II
.
In 2006 the building was purchased from DCT Developments by Bruntwood for just over £
5 million. Bruntwood was then expected to spend 2007/08 refurbishing the building at a cost of £
750,000.
The building's primary tenant is a set of barrister
s' chambers, which have been in occupation in various parts since 1965.
Oriel Chambers and 16 Cook Street were featured in the first episode of the ITV
(Granada
/ Tyne Tees
) television series Grundy's Northern Pride
, looking at John Grundy
's favourite buildings in the north of England, aired on 9 January 2007.
Curtain wall
A curtain wall is an outer covering of a building in which the outer walls are non-structural, but merely keep out the weather. As the curtain wall is non-structural it can be made of a lightweight material reducing construction costs. When glass is used as the curtain wall, a great advantage is...
building. Designed by architect Peter Ellis
Peter Ellis (architect)
Peter Ellis was a Liverpudlian architect. He lived for a time at 40 Falkner Square, on which an English Heritage Blue Plaque is now sited....
and built in 1864, it comprises 43000 sq ft (3,994.8 m²) set over five floors. A Grade 1 Listed Building, it is located on Water Street near to the town hall in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Oriel Chambers, and the architect's only other known building at 16 Cook Street
16 Cook Street
16 Cook Street, Liverpool was built in 1866 and, together with Oriel Chambers on the city's Water Street, forms the complete work of Peter Ellis. It is a Grade II* Listed Building....
, are amongst the city's precursors of modernist architecture. However its simplified forms and large windows meant that the building initially courted controversy, being described as "an agglomeration of great glass bubbles" and even "a great abortion" which led to the disheartened Ellis abandoning architecture.
Today it looks a little different, combining its period architecture with a 1950s extension, which was added to the building after it was bombed during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
In 2006 the building was purchased from DCT Developments by Bruntwood for just over £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
5 million. Bruntwood was then expected to spend 2007/08 refurbishing the building at a cost of £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
750,000.
The building's primary tenant is a set of barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
s' chambers, which have been in occupation in various parts since 1965.
Oriel Chambers and 16 Cook Street were featured in the first episode of the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
(Granada
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
/ Tyne Tees
Tyne Tees Television
Tyne Tees Television is the ITV television franchise for North East England and parts of North Yorkshire. As of 2009, it forms part of a non-franchise ITV Tyne Tees & Border region, shared with the ITV Border region...
) television series Grundy's Northern Pride
Grundy's Northern Pride
Grundy's Northern Pride is an ITV Tyne Tees/Granada series about architecture, presented by John Grundy. A follow-up to Grundy's Wonders, the series covers a wider area than that series ....
, looking at John Grundy
John Grundy
John Grundy is a television presenter and author. His work is mainly featured around North East England.- Biography :...
's favourite buildings in the north of England, aired on 9 January 2007.
External links
- http://www.sjsfiles.btinternet.co.uk/flm030636.htm
- http://www.walkingbook.co.uk/liverpool/
- http://www.orielchambers.co.uk/
- http://www.bruntwood.co.uk
- http://viewfinder.english-heritage.org.uk/story/slide.asp?StoryUid=48&totSlides=12&slideNo=9
- http://www.grundysnorthernpride.tv
- http://workingwonders.tv
- http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=428&storycode=3155796&channel=783&c=2