Liverpool Old Cathedral as a magnificent architecture - Assignment Example

The focus in this paper is on Liverpool Old Cathedral. The single tower structure was not the original design proposed by Giles Gilbert Scott who was the winner of the design competition organised by the authorities of Liverpool for the cathedral. Scott family was a family of architects. He was barely twenty two years old when he submitted the original design for the cathedral which had twin towers and not a single tower as it is now being seen with. As the architect was an articled student and it was his first commission at such young age, the management decided to appoint Bodley who was a senior architect and one of the judges of the competition of which Scott was the winner.

However the joint commission theory left Scott frustrated to a large extent. The work had begun in the year 1904 and Bodley had several other commitments going on at the same time as well. Bodley was not able to give undivided attention to the construction of the cathedral which created problems for Scott. Scott decided to give up on the commission and resign form the job when in the year 1907, Bodley’s sudden death forced him to stay on. Scott was now single in charge of the project and although management doubted his decisions several times never thought of appointing a co-architect.

They trusted Scott and his vision of the cathedral. In the year 1910, Scott presented the committee his revised plan of architecture which consisted of single tower unlike the original design. The committee was shocked initially and asked Scott to present more detailed plans. Upon his presentation the changes were agreed upon and the work commenced. The most unusual feature of the history of cathedral’s construction is that it has witnessed 74 years of British history, which includes the golden era and the two world wars.

It also witnessed bombing of previously constructed part and needless to say in the times of labour scarcity had tough times to reconstruct the cathedral. It was only assurance from the royal family as well as the authorities that the construction continued and eventually got completed. This is the fifth longest cathedral of the world and second largest cathedral of England. Features of Liverpool Old Cathedral The common features of any cathedral construction comprise: 1. Chapter House – Which is also the office of dean and chapter where decisions regarding running of the cathedral are taken. 2. Cloisters – Cloisters are rectangular pathways which surround the central garden or greenery.

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