Developers Karrev, renowned for bringing heritage buildings back to life, have uncovered a portrait the original architect behind Manchester’s iconic Sunlight House during their £30m refurbishment project.
In line with their commitment to preserving the building’s rich history, Karrev has commissioned Manchester-based art restorer James Bloomfield to restore the painting, which will be proudly displayed in the building once the refurbishment is completed later this year.
Joseph Sunlight, the architect behind Manchester’s first skyscraper, was a visionary designer and industry trailblazer.
The original painting, believed to have been created in the 1920/30s, was found damaged in the attic of Sunlight House by the team while carrying out works.
Based in Ancoats, Bloomfield, an expert in fine art restoration, works extensively with private collectors and galleries across the north west, and has been brought on to restore the 6ft high portrait to its original glory.
Karrev aspires to maintain the heritage of the buildings they restore, and at Sunlight House the team is committed to keeping the spirit of Joseph Sunlight very much alive in this new phase.
First established in 1932, the iconic heritage building has remained a timeless testament to ambition, nestled in the heart of Spinningfields.
This year, the team at Karrev are transforming the much-loved building into Grade A office space, with leisure facilities in its basement, previously home to Bannatyne’s gym.
Sunlight House was inspired by the art deco commercial buildings of early 1900s Chicago, with a slated three-tier mansard roof, large square plan and central light well. It remained the city’s tallest building until the early to mid-1960s.
On the works being carried out to the painting, James Bloomfield said: “It is an honour, as a Mancunian, to be working on restoring Joseph Sunlight’s portrait, as it is testament to the figures who helped to build this great city.
“It appears that the portrait may have been created to commemorate Joseph Sunlight becoming a Member of Parliament in 1924, as he appears to be wearing parliamentary robes. The artist’s mark appears to be L Benecci, but we can’t seem to find very much on them at all. It may also be that the portrait was based on an photograph taken at the time. It’s not the value with this portrait, it’s the history and the fact that it lay uncovered that makes the story perfect for its location.
“The restoration project will take approximately four weeks to complete as I aim to return the portrait to near its original state. It requires an extensive clean, repairs to damages such as small holes, a re-stretching the canvas and restoration of the large wooden frame.”
Richard Morgan, Director of Leasing and Asset Management, added:
“The discovery of this historic painting is a great connection to Joseph Sunlight and the period that Sunlight House was built. It is this reason why we were so keen to enlist the help of a renowned restorer in James Bloomfield to give it a much needed freshen up, so that we can place Joseph in the reception as a reminder to all visitors of the building’s rich history.
“As we embark on the final stages of Sunlight House’s restoration, we’re looking forward to piecing together the final touches, which includes marking Joseph’s legacy in Manchester and hanging the portrait within the building, where it belongs.”
Joseph Sunlight, who was a former MP for Shrewsbury, initially proposed a 40-storey extension of Sunlight House in 1949, but it was rejected by Manchester City Council.
Sunlight House is expected to re-open in Autumn 2025.
