MATERIALISING THE INTANGIBLE OF LIONS CHAMBERS
Abstract
The Lion chambers is a Category A listed building located in a conservation area in Glasgow. It was built in 1904 and its construction was completed in 1907. For a long time, the building was abandoned after safety concerns were raised. James Salmon and John Jaff Gillespie designed the building and before the eviction occurred in 1995, artists and lawyers used to work in the Lion chambers. The building's design followed a new design concept during the twenties’ century that applied the Hennebique system that used reinforced concrete instead of steel frames. In addition, it was the second building in Scotland to be built according to this new design concept. The building consists of 8 different floors and contains many architectural features such as corner turrets, modeling of external walls, etc.
In this project, we will focus on preserving the interiors of The Lion chambers. The proposal includes a new restoration project focused on rehabilitating the building and bringing the building back to life by converting it into a residential hotel. It also contains the introduction of new facilities, activities, and functions to the site. In conclusion, the main purpose of this project is to help preserve a Category A listed building which is one of the first buildings in the UK to use a reinforced concrete approach.