Lion Chambers, Eight-story office building in Glasgow, United Kingdom
Lion Chambers is an eight-storey office building in Glasgow distinguished by an octagonal cupola at its corner and three irregular bays facing Hope Street. Carved stone panels sit between the first and second floors, forming part of the building's ornamented exterior.
Construction took place between 1904 and 1907 under architects James Salmon II and John Gaff Gillespie, who created one of Britain's first reinforced concrete buildings. This pioneering structural technique demonstrated Glasgow's role as an industrial and engineering innovator during the Edwardian era.
The lower floors housed law offices while the upper storeys provided workspace for painters and sculptors, reflecting how the city blended professional practice with artistic creation during the early 1900s.
The building has been vacant since 1995 and remains closed to the public due to structural issues. Visitors can view it only from the street and exterior areas surrounding Hope Street.
Two carved stone heads depicting Sheriff Guthrie and Judge Lord Scott Dickson support the canted corner section rising from the first to fourth floor. These sculptures are easy to miss but offer a direct connection to the individuals who shaped the building's commissioning.
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