To celebrate the bicentenary of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson‘s birth a programme of events and activities have been planned to take place throughout 2017. We will continue to update this calendar throughout the year with more and more exciting events as these are confirmed so please keep checking back. You can also sign up to our e-mail newsletter here to stay up to date.
The first of our 2017 series of lectures, delivered by Fiona Sinclair and bringing attention to Thomson’s lost buildings.
The second in our 2017 series of talks is by Professor Dean Hawkes. His talk will focus on the work of Sir John Soane, in particular his house at Lincoln’s Inn Fields, the Law Courts at Westminster (long ago demolished, but remarkable), the Bank of England and the Dulwich Picture Gallery. When Sir John Soane died in 1837,…
A unique opportunity to see the BBC’s new documentary on the life and work of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson on the big screen, this event also features a Q&A with the director. “David Hayman goes in search of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson, the visionary architect who, a generation before Charles Rennie Mackintosh, transformed industrial Glasgow with some…
American architect and Renaissance architecture expert Gary Paul will discuss the work of Andrea Palladio, whilst also referring to the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and Alexander Thomson. Andrea Palladio’s work has been valued as the quintessence of High Renaissance calm and harmony. His reputation is based on his skill as a designer of villas,…
The People’s History Show on STV Glasgow will include a 10minute segment on the legacy of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson.
“SPECULATIONS ON INFINITY”: Short one-man play narrated by the man himself. This will be accompanied by a 1960s film on Thomson’s architecture from the NLS Film Archive. Thursday 13th April : 7.30pm in the John McLintock Hall, Dunmore St., Balfron. FREE but ticketed in advance (due to numbers). Tickets from Balfron Library
Hosted as part of the Southside Fringe Festival, join us for an evening exploring a selection of rarely screened archive film about the life of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson, his buildings and how his unique architectural style influenced Glasgow in the 1800s and today. Thomson’s legacy is particularly prominent in the Southside, having completed villas, terraces,…
Gary Nisbet of Glasgow Sculpture will deliver a talk focussing on the work of John Mossman, with particular reference to the link between the Mossman’s and Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson.
In the bicentenary of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson’s birth, join Glasgow City Heritage Trust & The Alexander Thomson Society to ‘talk Thomson’ and decide: what is Thomson’s best building? One of the Glasgow’s greatest architects, Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson is praised for his originality, use of modern technologies and his personal Graeco-Egyptian style. Following on from the…
Sally White of The Alexander Thomson Society will deliver a talk focusing on Thomson’s architectural legacy in the South Side of Glasgow.
Mark Baines is the chairman of the Alexander Thomson Society, an organisation that protects Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson’s legacy and his architectural heritage. This talk will look at the former Caledonia Road Church along with other buildings designed by Thomson on the South Side of the city, including Walmer Crescent, Moray Place and a number of…
As part of our 2017 lecture series, Mark Baines will discuss Alexander Thomson’s urban architecture and his lasting legacy in the city of Glasgow.
Discover a Thomson villa and 2 villas by other architects, some of Alexander Thomson’s beautiful external detailing of 5 of his residential buildings in Glasgow and where the 7 Glasgow muses are to be found.
Lost Thomson: Glasgow’s Loss Thursday 21 September, 6pm £10 (£5 discounted rate for members of the Glasgow Art Club) In his bicentenary year, Fiona Sinclair gives an insightful talk on the lost works of the eminent architect Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson. Please arrive at 6pm for a welcome drink, with the talk commencing at 6.30pm sharp.…
Paul Stallan will provide a review of the architectural syntax of Thomson’s work, delving into the laws which governed his architecture, whilst discussing where this has influenced his own architectural designs.
The Alexander Thomson Society are pleased to present a rare books event in association with The Mitchell Library. Glasgow architect and director of the Society, Scott Abercrombie, will deliver a talk giving a historical context to the importance of these books in relation to Thomson’s work and other contemporary Glaswegian architects. He will discuss built examples where…
We are delighted that Eric Parry joins the Society this year to deliver our annual Alexander Thomson lecture. This event is open to all. Members can book tickets by clicking “enter promotional code” and entering the password they received in the post along with their journal. Members requiring a reminder of their password or other…
Architect and deputy director of Glasgow City Heritage Trust, Niall Murphy, will deliver a talk focussing on the life and work of Sir John James Burnet. His works include Charing Cross Mansions and the Clyde Navigation Trust building in Glasgow, and works to British Museum and Selfridges in London.
Art historian and actor Paul O’Keeffe joins the Society to perform John Ruskin’s ‘Architecture’ lecture, from the Ruskin’s 1853 series of lectures originally delivered to the Philosophical Institution in Edinburgh.
Nominated for the Scottish Heritage Angel Awards in 2017 for his research into James Sellars and his Kelvinside Academy building, Dominic Ferrie will present his ongoing research into the life and work of Sellars, and his link to Alexander Thomson.
Iain McGillivray will discuss the ongoing and planned restoration work at Holmwood, one of Thomson’s finest interiors. Followed by Helen Kendrick who will deliver a talk drawing from her fantastic book, Glasgow Interiors, prepared in collaboration with Neale Smith.
Writer, journalist and architecture critic, Owen Hatherley, joins the Society to deliver the inaugural Gavin Stamp lecture. Owen is the author of Militant Modernism, Landscapes of Communism and A Guide to the New Ruins of Great Britain.
The Alexnder Thomson Society and National Library of Scotland present art historian Anne Lyden (Chief Curator of Photography, National Galleries of Scotland) discussing the work of influential Victorian photographer Thomas Annan.
The Save Egyptian Halls symposium brings speakers together discuss the significance of this A-listed building and how it might be saved. Timetable tbc, speakers include: Niall Murphy – Glasgow City Heritage Trust Fiona Sinclair – Fiona Sinclair Architects Scott Abercrombie / Mark Baines – The Alexander Thomson Society Ben Adam – David Narro Associates Andrew…
We are delighted that this year’s Alexander Thomson Lecture will be delivered by Amin Taha. The London-based, Stirling Prize nominated architect of buildings such as 15 Clerkenwell Close and Barrett’s Grove will deliver a talk reflecting on his work and his approach to architecture. The Society were interested by Amin’s approach to the use of…
Patrick is an author and historic paint consultant with a wealth of experience in unpicking the lost decorative schemes of significant buildings across the UK, including Holmwood. His books, The Anatomy of Colour and Nature’s Palette have both been met with high praise and are exceptionally well illustrated. He joins the Society to discuss his…
Amin joins the Society to deliver his long-awaiting talk which was postponed at the start of the pandemic. He heads up the London-based practice Groupwork, which has won multiple RIBA awards and been nominated for the Stirling Prize. Amin is particularly interested in the potential of structural stone in modern construction, as well as experimenting…
Max is the curator of 19th century furniture at the V&A and author of books on Christopher Dresser and Daniel Cottier. He joins us to discuss his latest book, which focuses on Cottier’s work. Cottier and Thomson were closely connected, most notably collaborating on the design of Queen’s Park Church together.
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