Status Complete Completed 1938 Opened 1938 | Type Residential Height 26 m Architectural style Art Deco | |
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Former names Luma Light Bulb Factory, Caravanland Location Linthouse, Glasgow, Scotland Owner Linthouse Housing Association Ltd Similar Bellgrove Hotel, Govan subway station, Gallery of Modern Art, University of Glasgow Memorial, Sharmanka Kinetic Gallery | ||
The ghosts of luma tower
The Luma Tower is a residential building and former factory in the Greater Govan area of Glasgow, Scotland. It is famous as one of the best preserved examples of Art Deco architecture in the city. It has been protected as a category B listed building since 1988.
Contents
Map of Luma Tower, 510 Shieldhall Rd, Glasgow G51 4HE, UK
History
Located in the western suburb of Linthouse, the building was constructed as a light bulb factory as a joint venture by a Swedish co-operative, and the British Luma Co-Operative Lamp company in 1938 , its distinctive feature is the protruding tower (resembling an airport control tower) which was originally used to test light bulbs beyond their design voltage for longevity. The building was part of the massive Sheildhall Manufacturing Complex that used to stand in the area, and its completion was also intended as a symbol of the Empire Exhibition of that year which was held in nearby Bellahouston Park.
Following the ending of light bulb manufacture, the building was sold and amongst other uses was used as a caravan showroom, before finally falling into dereliction in the 1980s.
In 1993, a local housing association acquired the decaying building amid fears it would be demolished, and began the process of it restoring it and converted into affordable housing. In the end, forty-three new apartments were created, with a further twelve in a creative reproduction of the original building's style to the rear. The tower element is now illuminated with blue neon lighting and is a noticeable landmark around Govan, and it can be clearly seen from the westbound carriageway of the M8 motorway between Junctions 24 and 25.