Luma Tower, Art Deco industrial building in Shieldhall, Scotland
Luma Tower is a former factory building with a distinctive curved tower topped by a glass structure located on Renfrew Road in Glasgow. The building combines industrial brick and steel with Art Deco design elements that make it stand out from typical factory architecture of its era.
Built in 1938 for the Empire Exhibition, the tower was part of a manufacturing complex where light bulbs were produced for the Scottish Co-operative society. The building later served other industrial purposes before being converted into apartments in the 1990s.
The curved tower and streamlined design reflect industrial design values of the 1930s, when factories aimed to show pride in manufacturing and technical progress. Walking around the building today, you can see how these Art Deco details shaped the local skyline and remain distinctive in the neighborhood.
The building is now residential and best viewed from the outside along Renfrew Road, where the curved tower is clearly visible from street level. The location is easily accessible and offers good views of the entire facade from the surrounding public areas.
During World War II, the Royal Observer Corps used the glass tower as a lookout post because normal light testing was banned under blackout restrictions. This unexpected wartime role shows how civilian industrial buildings were adapted for defense purposes.
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