The Egyptian Halls, Category A listed commercial building in Glasgow, Scotland
The Egyptian Halls is a four-storey commercial building on Union Street in Glasgow, with eighteen window bays separated by stone columns and decorated capitals running across the facade. The stonework covers almost every surface, giving the whole front of the building a dense, layered appearance.
Alexander Greek Thomson designed this building between 1870 and 1872 for iron manufacturer James Robertson, and it was one of the last major projects he completed before his death. Thomson died shortly after it was finished, making this one of his final works.
The name suggests Egypt, but the facade is covered in Greek-style columns and carved stone details that have nothing to do with Egyptian architecture. This contrast between the name and what you actually see is one of the first things visitors notice when they stop in front of the building.
The building stands on Union Street and is easy to spot from the pavement, though scaffolding has covered much of the facade for several years due to its poor condition. The interior is not open to visitors, so the facade is the main thing to see on a visit.
The heaviest stone columns on the building sit on the top floor rather than at street level, which is the opposite of how most buildings are constructed. This inverted weight distribution gives the facade a top-heavy look that becomes noticeable once you know to look for it.
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