Venetian blinder
Former factory that thinks it’s a palace takes you to the lofty heights
ONCE in a generation comes a building so lavish and exotic it takes the breath away. Imagine the reaction in Victorian-era Glasgow when this masterpiece emerged from the ground to become the world’s most elaborate factory for making carpets.
It’s said that industrialist James Templeton became so frustrated at the constant rejection of his new mill proposals that he hired celebrity architect William Leiper to create a building so fabulous that nobody could turn it down.
The inspiration for the building facing Glasgow Green in Bridgeton was the Doge’s Palace, a landmark of Piazza San Marco in Venice.
The snobbery which infects the keepers of our great buildings is still evident today in some of the remarks attached to the reasons for granting this building Category A status. Yes, they praise the ‘red, terracotta multi-coloured glazed bricks’ on its frontage but when it comes to the ‘statement of interest’ Buildings of Scotland notes state: ‘Contemporary comments on Leiper’s building include “the colours are harmonious, if rather louder than one is used to”.’
In 1984, the grand building was converted into the Templeton Business Centre, then in 2005 a mixed use ‘lifestyle village’ was created to encompass office space, residential apartments and the West microbrewery.
Now the opportunity has arisen to share in the history of this amazing structure through the sale of the kind of compact loft apartment which would cost upwards of £1 million in prime parts of London or New York.
The living and kitchen space looks fantastic, with stripped floors, high ceiling and multi-pane Crittall-style steel windows that offer a fantastic perspective over Glasgow Green, established in the 15th Century and the city’s oldest park. The current owner has opted for a mid-century feel to this space, with signature dark blue wall, 1960s furniture and cool teal kitchen units.
Sitting over this space is what’s described as a second bedroomcum-sitting room but surely in today’s pandemic, this would work as a fabulous WFH environment.
It is more than 15 feet wide and accessed via stairs from the hallway. Of course, that would only leave you with one bedroom, separated from the living space by partition walls and offering a generous walk-in cupboard. But it would be fun, switching uses for these rooms around before you find the perfect fit.
If you can mentally overcome the fact that each space does not need to have an exclusive use, there’s enough flexible furniture around on the market to help you do that.
The stylish bathroom has a three-piece suite, comprising overbath shower, floating sink, multi-pane shower screen and monochrome tiling.
A secure entry system leads to a communal entrance, with lift and stair access to all levels.
The apartment has been allocated a space in the building’s underground car park.
The area is superb for modern urban living. Just a hop, skip and a jump away, you can find comedian Billy Connolly’s big banana feet in the People’s Palace (currently closed for urgent repairs). The surrounding streets can get busy with shoppers at the nearby Barras Market at the weekend but if you want to go into the city centre, it’s a 10 or 15-minute stroll via London Road or straight across the park to the High Court.
All Glasgow citizens still retain the right to dry their washing on Glasgow Green, enshrined in law, and a maze of poles is laid out in front of the building to allow them to do just that.
Handy to know when the tumble dryer goes on the blink.