Originally Posted by
ThePenkethPedant
Popped into the Liver Building today - was curious to see what they had done to the interior which had been `refurbished` a few years ago, when the cafe closed (it hasn`t been re-opened). The cafe was open to visitors and although fare was basic it was very handy, with toilet facilities in the building too. The ambience was excellent, in a large marble-floored hall, with a fountain and stained glass partition wall at the far end, a stylised life-size reproduction of the Liver clock dial as a design in the centre of the floor. The approach corridors were wood-panelled with framed photos and informaton of the building`s history. Sadly, it is now unrecognisable - the lovely marble floor is now covered with a non-descript tiling, the character has gone, the room has been reduced in size,the fountain and stained glass panel removed, as has the large glass display case housing the model of the Canadian Pacific ship `Empress of France`. The wood-panelling has been ripped out. Some marble remains around the main entrance, a reminder of what has been lost.The Liver Building is now closed to visitors,officially, with the exception of the September `Heritage Week` each year, when tours take place and for which booking is essential as numbers are strictly limited. Today I came away rather depressed at the wilful cultural vandalism that has taken place in what was a truly iconic setting. I wonder how it came about, why it wasn`t protected by `listing` and really who and why decided to wreck almost 100 years of Liver Building history and replace it with a modern, clinical see-it-anywhere format. Any necessary updating, eg, air-conditioning, could surely have been introduced without the destruction which has taken place.
