Asia House, Manchester

Asia House is a warehouse with a trapezoidal layout formed by two connected blocks rising six stories, built from pink-brown sandstone with brick and marble facade elements. A double basement runs beneath the structure, and the upper levels were converted to residential apartments in 2003.

Built between 1906 and 1909, the warehouse was commissioned by Refuge Assurance Company and originally housed the Oxford Packing Company alongside 36 shipping merchants. This period marked a peak in Manchester's commercial expansion and international trade.

The entrance hall displays patterned marble walls and colorful glass panels featuring tree designs. These details reflect the building's original role as a center for trade and commerce in the city.

The basement level now functions as parking, while upper floors serve as residential apartments. Visitors should note this is an active residential building, so the exterior architecture is best appreciated from street level.

The building originally used inert gas lighting throughout its spaces and featured hydraulic hoists to move goods between floors and basement packing rooms. These technologies were remarkably advanced for early industrial-era engineering.