Corys Building Cardiff Bay

4 January 2018  |  Admin

Example ImageReinventing the heart and soul of Cardiff
Renovation of iconic Corys’ Buildings

Sometimes we pay little more than lip service to respecting and preserving the past. Kusten Vorland is proud to play its part in reclaiming and restoring it for the future.

Corys’ Buildings, which is situated in the heart of Cardiff Bay, is to be converted into 24 one- and two-bedroom apartments, with all the creature comforts of modern living, and retail at ground floor level.

Designed by Cardiff architects Bruton & Williams in 1889, it has been redesigned by architectural firm Morgan 2 Hayman for 2018.
Kusten Vorland is entrusted with the challenging task of enabling and pre-refurbishment services.
We are delighted to work with property development company Skyview Estates, who will oversee the project.
Lucky homebuyers will start moving in furniture and take up occupancy at the end of next year.

Reclaiming the might and majesty of the past
Corys’ Buildings’ beauty and stately grandeur reflect the might of Cardiff at a time when it was at the height of its powers as a port. Cardiff was once one of the smallest towns in Wales, but by the end of the 1890s it handled more coal than any other port in the world. Cory Brothers & Co was the building’s original occupants, and their business interests included chandlery, brokerage, colliery and wagon ownership and coal exporting. Butetown was a busy and thriving place with over 50 nationalities settled there and in the surrounding dockland area, which acquired the name ‘Tiger Bay’.

An architectural gem
But there’s no need to hanker after the past when we can preserve it for the future.
Then again, sometimes heritage needs a helping hand, and some of Cardiff’s most historic buildings have lain empty and forlorn for too long.
There is something magical about Corys’ Buildings’ recessed entrance adorned with Grecian brackets, and its ashlar front and channelled ground floor with granite plinth.

But even if you don’t know your oriel window from your elbow, you can’t but admire the intricacy of the building’s interiors. You may not know the difference between a foliated spandrel and a part fluted pilaster, but you can see the artistry and expertise of the craftsmanship.
Popular in Roman and Greek architecture, such details were judged fitting for Cardiff’s pomp and economic might at the time.

But you’ve got to tread carefully in old buildings
Kusten Vorland feels honoured and privileged to be entrusted with this delicate operation. It’s a real testament to the reputation we have achieved in the region.
It is our job to strip out the asbestos, leaving an empty shell which is safe and secure for the phase 2 contractors: the plumbers and first-fix electricians.
You must take care when you are dealing with listed original features and delicate details such as dentilled cornice, foliated spandrels, part fluted pilaster and the like.

Kusten Vorland – taking care of Cardiff and its heritage
To our mind, Cardiff just gets better and better. It’s looking up and there’s room at the top. Where better to own a pad? Location, location, location – that’s the mantra. And what a location! Nestled between the Customs and Immigration building to its left and the former Board of Trade building on Bute Place to its right, it offers enviable views across the bay.

Missed your taxi? It won’t matter with your crib this close to the city centre.
European Capital of Culture 2023?
Cardiff may have pulled out of the race to win this title, but we’re still capitalizing on its culture and heritage.
History is an ongoing story.