I often wonder if designer, William Leiper, was taking the mickey when he put forward his plans for Templeton Carpet Factory back in 1892. Frustrated by a flurry of rejections to his mainstream designs, I like to assume he entered the city chambers as a very grumpy and sarcastic Glaswegian man.
Council: "What have you got for us now then?"
Leiper: "Whatever the hell you want, it's a carpet factory so why don't we just go ahead and design Doge's Palace in Venice, maybe that will keep you happy."
Council: "Hmm, interesting, what colour?"
Leiper: "Eh? What d'you mean what colour? Orange, yellow, blue, with multi-coloured turrets and arches, I don't care what effing colour!"
And alas, Templeton Carpet Factory was formed.
Overlooking Glasgow Green, slightly further along from the People's Palace, this truly bizarre design is one of my favourite buildings in the city. Now operating as a business centre with a small pub situated next door, it has become a tourist attraction in its own right, despite the fact many Glaswegians are criminally unaware of its existence.
Good on you William! read more