In Memoriam: Lenny.... Happy New Year all..
The old Templeton carpet factory. Glasgow
.A functional carpet mill stood behind the spectacular facade of the Templeton carpet factory.
James Templeton from Paisley patented a chenille Axminster process by which he could manufacture more densely patterned and richly coloured carpets. He went on to become one of the most successful carpet manufacturers in Britain, producing carpets for state occasions, great houses, luxury liners including the 'Titanic', as well as domestic use.
The City turned down two designs for a major extension to his factory for this sensitive site on Glasgow Green before Templeton commissioned a leading Scottish architect, William Leiper (1839-1916), to tackle the project. His design is directly inspired by the late medieval Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace) in Venice but Leiper would also have been aware of the colourful phantasmagoria of designs being used for the pavilions in Glasgow's 1888 International Exhibition showground in the west end. The flamboyant glazed brick, vitreous enamel tiles, red brick and terracotta of the facade evokes the rich Oriental-influenced patterns of the carpets the factory produced.
The buildings have been converted within an approved masterplan to provide offices, workshops, creative studios and new and converted flats. The buildings overlooking the Green are to be developed as spacious apartments. The first 34 converted flats are complete.
The old Templeton carpet factory. Glasgow
.A functional carpet mill stood behind the spectacular facade of the Templeton carpet factory.
James Templeton from Paisley patented a chenille Axminster process by which he could manufacture more densely patterned and richly coloured carpets. He went on to become one of the most successful carpet manufacturers in Britain, producing carpets for state occasions, great houses, luxury liners including the 'Titanic', as well as domestic use.
The City turned down two designs for a major extension to his factory for this sensitive site on Glasgow Green before Templeton commissioned a leading Scottish architect, William Leiper (1839-1916), to tackle the project. His design is directly inspired by the late medieval Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace) in Venice but Leiper would also have been aware of the colourful phantasmagoria of designs being used for the pavilions in Glasgow's 1888 International Exhibition showground in the west end. The flamboyant glazed brick, vitreous enamel tiles, red brick and terracotta of the facade evokes the rich Oriental-influenced patterns of the carpets the factory produced.
The buildings have been converted within an approved masterplan to provide offices, workshops, creative studios and new and converted flats. The buildings overlooking the Green are to be developed as spacious apartments. The first 34 converted flats are complete.