Asia House, Manchester

Asia House on Princess Street in Manchester stands as a notable historical building from the early 20th century. Constructed between 1906 and 1909, it exemplifies Edwardian Baroque architecture and has been recognized as a Grade II* listed building since October 3, 1974. Originally a packing and shipping warehouse designed for the Refuge Assurance Company, it served multiple shipping merchants, such as the Oxford Packing Company, and housed 36 shipping merchants by 1910.

The building was designed by I.R.E. Birkett, according to architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner in his book The Buildings of England. However, English Heritage attributes the design to Harry S. Fairhurst. Asia House is particularly noted for its lavish interiors, including an "exceptionally rich" entrance hall and stairwell adorned with veined marble, green and cream faience, Art Nouveau stained glass, and tree motifs.

The structure of Asia House is built on a trapezoidal plan and consists of two linked blocks, each rising six stories high plus an attic above a double basement. Its facade is constructed with pink-brown sandstone, brick, and marble. The side and rear elevations feature glazed white brick and common brick, respectively. Originally, the warehouse had loading bays situated between the blocks, connected to packing rooms in the basement via shafts. These areas facilitated the movement of goods, which were then dispatched after being packed into bales using hydraulic presses powered by Manchester's hydraulic power system. The building was illuminated by gas.

Reflecting changes in urban utilization, Asia House was converted into residential units in 2003, with its basement repurposed as a car park. It has been home to notable residents, including Noel Gallagher, the famed singer-songwriter from the band Oasis. Asia House remains a prime example of Manchester's rich industrial heritage and its adaptation to modern urban living.