The Hatrack, 144 St Vincent Street, 142A, Glasgow

The Hatrack is a striking Art Nouveau commercial building located at 144 St Vincent Street, 142A, Glasgow, designed by James Salmon Jnr (Salmon, Son and Gillespie) between 1899 and 1902. This impressive structure features eight storeys, an attic, and a basement, with a narrow three-bay elevation. The two outer bays project forward above the first floor, rising to the fifth floor.

The building is constructed with a steel frame and faced with ashlar stone. There is a left entry at the top of steps, which is adorned with a leaded-glass bowed oriel window above. The right eastern bay features a larger oriel window with plain glass, situated above a secondary entrance. A sculpted frieze decorates the first floor on either side of a central arch, supported by corbels that hold up the canted bays. These canted bays above are accentuated with slim pilaster mullions that have individually designed projecting bases and capitals. The sixth floor includes bowed iron balconies, and each floor is marked by a cornice that acts as a cill band.

In the central bays, the ground and first floor feature a central canted bay with column mullions, while the first floor showcases a four-centred arched central light with a stylised keyblock. Above this, there are bipartite windows. The fourth floor has a solid curved parapet with sculpted and open segmented moulding, and the detail includes arched recessed windows with square section colonettes. The seventh floor is crowned by a giant recessed canted bay, which is framed by pilaster architraves and segmental pediments. The building has boldly projecting eaves and exaggerated shaped dormers, which contribute to its nickname "The Hatrack." A corniced end stack completes the exterior.

Inside, the building features a wrought-iron lift shaft and stained glass above the western door. It retains some original timber and plaster details, along with very elaborate Art Nouveau metalwork, particularly at the roof level and around the lift.