Basic Site Details

Name: Cunard Building
Town, district or village: Pier Head
City or county: Liverpool
Country: England
Parish:  
Status:  
Grid ref:
Notes: Listed Grade II* and one of the “Three Graces” on Liverpool’s iconic waterfront, now a World Heritage Site.

Willink and Thicknesse were appointed architects for the Cunard Building in 1911, conjointly with Arthur Davies of Mewes and Davies (qv). However, the respective roles of the two architectural practices remains unclear. Seemingly it was Davies, acting as consultant to Cunard, who determined that the design should be inspired by the Farnese Palace in Rome, designed by Antonio da Sangallo and completed by Michelangelo in 1544. Drawings prepared by Davies showing the building in almost its final form have also been found. Generally the building is attributed to Willink and Thicknesse and Davies can have played no significant role following the outbreak of World War I when he was commissioned into the army.

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 2Office Cunard head office until 1960's
Item 2 of 2Sea terminal Originally parts of the building were used as the passenger terminal for Cunard's Liverpool sailings

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:
 AddressMain entrance?Notes
Item 1 of 1Brunswick Street  

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 41911  Appointment of architects
Item 2 of 4December 1912 Build/constructionWork commenced on foundations and basements
Item 3 of 419141916Build/constructionWork on superstructure commenced about February 1914
Item 4 of 4June 1916 OpenedBuilding opened without formal ceremony

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
 NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 3Mewes & Davis a19111914Arthuer Davies, consultant architect until outbreak of war
Item 2 of 3Philip Coldwell Thicknesse b19111916 
Item 3 of 3Willink & Thicknesse b19111916 

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:
 NameNotes
Item 1 of 1Cunard Steamship Company 

References

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Building News21 June 1916  p611 and illustration