Inspiration Lost: The Union Street Dome Fire
For a decade, Michelle Cohen found inspiration in the view from her Glasgow art studio. She looked out onto a domed Victorian building on Union Street, a structure that housed businesses and cafes near the busy Central Station. Over those ten years, Cohen captured the building in numerous photographs and paintings. However, after a devastating fire swept through the building last weekend, that iconic view has been lost, likely forever.
While the destruction is shocking, such incidents have become a familiar pattern in Glasgow. The city’s historic architecture has repeatedly suffered fires and other disasters, prompting ongoing debate about whether these events are isolated accidents or indicative of deeper, systemic problems.
Recurring Fires Raise Concerns
"Each time these collapses or fires happen, the same conversations happen and everyone agrees it's terrible and we should do something about it,"says Matt Loader, co-founder of architecture firm Loader Monteith.
"Then 18 months later it happens again somewhere. Our Victorian city is disappearing, a piece at a time."
Following the recent fire, demolition of the Union Street building’s remains commenced on Friday.
Niall Murphy, director of Glasgow City Heritage Trust, spoke to BBC Radio 4's PM programme, highlighting the perception that Glasgow experiences more than its fair share of fires.
"They're very high profile fires in main streets,"he said,
"and that has an impact on the psyche on the city."
Notable Historic Fires in Glasgow
The Charles Rennie Mackintosh-designed Glasgow School of Art is among the most famous victims, having endured fires in both 2014 and 2018. The 2018 blaze also destroyed the O2 ABC venue, a building with a history dating back to 1875.
Other significant fires include B-listed tenement blocks at Albert Cross in Pollokshields, which caught fire in 2019 and 2020, and the India Buildings on Bridge Street, which were demolished in 2024 after roof collapse due to decay.
Additionally, a listed building on Sauchiehall Street, home to the popular nightclub Victoria's, was destroyed by fire in 2018, with the cause attributed to an electrical fault. In 2004, the Shack nightclub, housed in a 19th-century building, also burned down.
Personal Impact and Cultural Loss
For Cohen, the recent loss is deeply personal. She recalls photographing the dome atop the Union Corner building in every season and weather condition.
"I grew up in Canada and the oldest buildings would maybe be 100 years old,"she told BBC Scotland News.
"Coming to Glasgow and looking out at the architecture, the stonework, it was incredible. We had nothing like that at home.
Glasgow has this history in a relatively small area that I find fascinating. It's going to change a lot of people's ideas of the area. The whole G1 [postcode] area had this vibe - it's still my favourite place and I feel that's irreplaceable. It feels like these historic buildings are just not being looked after."
This sentiment resonates widely. Social media posts about fires in Glasgow often include speculation about flats replacing the destroyed buildings, reflecting concerns amid the city's expanding student accommodation sector. Some imply these disasters might be intentional, though experts suggest more pragmatic causes.
Economic and Ownership Challenges
Loader attributes the fires and decay to economic factors rather than conspiracy.
"Because it's unusual for a city to have as many Victorian, pre-war buildings sitting there unoccupied,"he explains.
"There is no doubt that elevates the risk – not just of fire, but of general decay, like what caused the India buildings to collapse.
A big issue in the city is who owns these buildings and why are they sitting there unoccupied? They are open to the elements that way."
Murphy describes the Union Street buildings as "stone box exteriors with timber in it," a design technique similar to Mackintosh's School of Art. He notes Glasgow has the highest number of at-risk buildings in Scotland, largely due to upper floor vacancies linked to economic cycles, business shifts, and availability of A-grade office space elsewhere.
The local authority emphasizes its investment of approximately £280 million in heritage projects over the past twelve years. A spokesperson stated:
"It should be understood that the owners of buildings, including heritage buildings, are responsible for their maintenance and protection."
Psychological Perspectives on Conspiracy Theories
Despite these explanations, conspiracy theories often emerge following such disasters. Dr Yvonne Skipper, a psychology lecturer at the University of Glasgow, explains their appeal.
"They're more popular during times of crisis, when people feel anxious,"she said.
"They help us make sense of chaos. It might not be a good explanation, but it offers something, and gives you something to be certain about.
They're very clear and reduce an issue to a simple thing - that people are doing things rather than chaotic chance."
Ongoing Preservation Efforts
Near the Union Street fire site, the A-listed Egyptian Halls have been covered in scaffolding for years. In 2025, Glasgow City Council initiated a compulsory purchase order (CPO) to take over the building from its current owners. In February, property firm Ediston received approval to proceed with plans to restore the site.
Loader advocates for stronger measures to protect such buildings.
"There has to be a big stick and a big carrot here,"he argues.
"If these buildings aren't fully in use, then why not? You should encourage people to either develop them, or, if they're not in a financial situation then sell or give them to people who can. Maybe that means an enormous empty buildings tax."
Details of the Latest Fire and Ownership Complexities
The fire last Sunday began in a vape shop at 105 Union Street. Since then, a complex web of ownership has emerged regarding responsibility for the shop.
An investigation by the Ferret website revealed that the shop's tenants, Junaid Retail Limited, had not paid business rates and did not appear to be registered to sell vaping products.
Challenges in Protecting Historic Sites
Journalist and historian Norry Wilson, who manages the Lost Glasgow social media page, reminisces about visiting record shops and technology stores in what he describes as "a major piece of the city's historic scenery" on Union Street.
Wilson believes the complicated ownership structures, involving multiple property management companies, hinder efforts to protect at-risk buildings.
"The soi disant [self-styled] ownership, and myriad different factors, and property management companies, only add to the confusion,"he said.
"When owners are local, and have eyes on their investment, they take more care of their property. When they are miles away, they are happy to sit back and just take the rent."
Community Reaction and Emotional Connection
As the severity of the recent fire became clear, Cohen traveled from her home in Renfrewshire to Glasgow.
"I went straight into the city and just stood and watched it,"she recalls.
"I could see the fire coming round the back of the dome, and I said to my landlord, 'It's done'.
I get the stonework will be hard to place, but it would be nice to have something that isn't a big glass box replacing it."
These buildings represent more than mere structures to many residents; they evoke memories and connect the present to the city's history.
By Monday, crowds gathered near the cordoned Union Corner site, expressing sadness over the loss of a beloved city landmark.
"There are links to our ancestors in these buildings,"reflects Loader.
"It's an anchor to Glasgow's past and it's really important that these gifts are not lost.
Because that's what they are – gifts to the city and to our heritage."
