Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

Leslie Grahame Thomson and Frank J Connell, 1938-40. Massive 5-storey L-plan Art Deco office block on corner site; entrance at splayed corner. Polished black granite at ground; contrasting smooth pale grey granite to upper floors. Doorway with 2-leaf storm doors with relief carved panels, fanlight above contains company crest; whole flanked by fluted pale grey granite columns supporting (at 1st floor) maternal and paternal bronze figures by Alexander Carrick; full-height oriel above, supported by keystone bracket; flanked by vertical flag poles at upper floors. Similar 5-bay elevations to George Street and St Andrew Square: depressed arched arcaded windows at ground; punched windows to upper floors becoming progressively shorter; bronze balconies and lamp brackets at 1st floor. Attic set back behind black granite cornice/parapet. St Andrew Square elevation with further narrow outer bay with door at ground and vertical glazing strip for stair well above. George Street return with projecting half-gabled stack.

Original horizontal multi-pane metal glazing throughout. Piend and platform tiled roof; grey slates.

INTERIOR: of exceptional period detail and integrity. Entrance planned on diagonal axis; public area with reeded marble columns, and flanking counters leads to Imperial staircase in central core with stained glass designed by William Wilson, repeating to 5th floor; original bronze and glass lamps. At ground, offices extend to rear of stair into igloo like space with saucer dome pierced by glass eyes. 1st floor with marble landing; Boardroom with apsidal ends and marble columns, compartmentalised teak? ceiling and walnut panelled doors; similar Manager's and Committee rooms; marble fireplaces with original electric fires, furniture and lights to these, and associated, rooms. Remaining floors essentially open plan wrapping aroung central landing; marble columns at 2nd floor; polished timber fittings up to 4th floor.

Statement of Special Interest

Built for the Caledonian Insurance Company. The bronze figures were cast by the Henshaws. The original perspective shows a single garland in the frieze above each bay.

References

Bibliography

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.