Birthplace of the Skyscraper? – Liverpool Architecture
Written by Andy Hayes
Is Liverpool the birthplace of the modern skyscraper?
by inniebear
The building in the photo above is the Royal Liver Building, built in 1911, an icon of the English city of Liverpool and one of its most recognisable Liverpool attractions. And yes, indeed, in many ways it is at the heart of Liverpool’s foundations as the home of the skyscraper. You won’t see blistering Dubai-like skylines in Liverpool – actually, much of what is important is what you can’t see.
- Liverpool buildings were the first to use iron to actually support the structure itself. This was first accomplished in some of the city’s older churches before being put to use inside bigger buildings.
- Older taller buildings had small windows because the walls required the support. Not so in many Liverpool buildings, which were the first to have large glass windows as walls.
- The Royal Liver was indeed the first to use reinforced concrete to secure its height. Without it, some of the original tall concrete buildings looked a bit like the leaning tower of Pisa a bit too soon after construction!
- Pre-fabricated building sections were also first used in Liverpool. These were mostly used in the building of several apartment complexes throughout the city which weren’t architecturally stunning, but it did prove that this concept could increase building speed and reduce the cost.
More Tips for Things to Do in England
We’ve plenty of travel tips for what to do in England, outside London.
According to Wikipedia, there is some disagreement as to whether the fist skyscraper is the Home Insurance Building in Chicago or the Equitable Life Assurance Building in New York. Apparently, the choice depends on the definition of what a skyscraper is.
Thanks for the history lesson. I visited Liverpool for the first time recently and was impressed by the architecture; both old (eg: Cunard Building) and new (eg: National Museums Liverpool).
http://www.sidewalksafari.com/2010/09/24-hours-in-liverpool.html
Liverpool may well be the birthplace of the MODERN skyscraper, but this is not the bulding. According to Wikipedia, Oriel Chambers is the first building constructed of a steel frame with a glass curtain wall. It may only be four storeys tall, but MODERN skyscrapers are all steel frame with glass curtain wall:)