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The Egyptian Halls in Glasgow is named among the most endangered heritage sites in Europe.

The A-listed Union Street landmark has been nominated for 2020's 7 Most Endangered List by EU-backed NGO network Europa Nostra, which describes itself as 'the Voice of Cultural Heritage in Europe.'

The Egyptian Halls has made the unenviable list of 14 at-risk sites alongside an impressive fortress in Belgrade, the "spectacularly ornamented" 19th-century castle in Tuscany and a prominent cultural centre in Albania.

Built in 1872, the five-storey building is regarded by many as Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson’s finest work – designed in a classical style with an "unusual combination" of Greek, Egyptian and Assyrian detailing.

It has lain empty for 40 years amid numerous disputes and requires extensive repairs, estimated at between £10m and £30m.

Planning permission has been granted on several occasions to convert the building into a hotel, but these have stalled due to a lack of available public funding to support a commercial development.

Europa Nostra's statement read: "Glasgow’s Egyptian Halls, a masterpiece of the architect Alexander Thomson, is increasingly confronted with the danger of being completely lost.

"Completed in 1872, the building hosted public gatherings, musical performances and were home to over 50 stalls selling goods from around the world.

"The ground floor units have been used consistently as shops while the upper floors have gone through numerous changes and neglect in recent years. Water penetration, poor alterations and an inappropriate use of materials have combined to advance the building’s deterioration. Though the majority of the interior design has been lost, the building’s principal facade remains almost intact."

The Egyptian Halls was nominated by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings with the support of the Alexander Thomson Society who support research into finding a realistic alternative use for the building.

A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: “This historic A listed building in undoubtedly an important part of both Glasgow’s cultural heritage and its urban fabric. For many years, council officers have worked with the owners of the Egyptian Halls to support their hopes of developing the building appropriately in order that it could be enjoyed by future generations.

"We look forward to the presentation of proposals which could achieve this.”

Supported by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union, the 7 Most Endangered identifies the most threatened monuments, sites and landscapes in Europe and lobbies public and private partners to find a viable future for them.

The final list will be announced in March 2020. Find out more HERE.

See the full shortlist below.

(Image: Europa Nostra)

The Shortlisted 14 endangered heritage sites

National Theatre of Albania, Tirana, ALBANIA Karas – Traditional Wine Vessels, ARMENIA Khoranashat Monastery, Tavush Region, ARMENIA Castle Jezeří, Horní Jiřetín, CZECH REPUBLIC Tapiola Swimming Hall, Espoo, FINLAND Castle of Sammezzano, Tuscany, ITALY Archaeological Park of Sybaris, ITALY Ivicke House, Wassenaar, THE NETHERLANDS Y-block, Government Quarter, Oslo, NORWAY Szombierki Power Plant, Bytom, POLAND Belgrade Fortress and its surrounding, SERBIA Plečnik Stadium, Ljubljana, SLOVENIA Cuatro Caminos Metro Depot, Madrid, SPAIN Egyptian Halls, Glasgow, UNITED KINGDOM

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