| Archive for urbanglasgow.co.uk For lovers of Urban Exploration of Glasgow, Scotland, UK |
| Alex Glass |
Glasgow ArchitectsGlasgow ArchitectsThere are may architects associated with Glasgow. Some are more famous than others. It would be good to see examples of their work and maybe even a little bit about them as well. Who is your favourite Architect? What is your favourite building? |
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| Alex Glass |
Alexander ThomsonFamously known as Alexander (Greek) Thomson because of the influence of Greek and Egyptian architecture on his work.Although some of the buildings designed by Thomson have been demolished there are still many examples left. Here is a list from the Heritage Trail Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson Heritage Trail 1. St Vincent Street UP Church, 261 St Vincent Street 2. Grecian Chambers, 336-356 Sauchiehall Street 3. 107 West Regent Street 4. 99-107 West Nile Street 5. Grosvenor Building, 72-80 Gordon Street 6. Egyptian Halls, 84-100 Union Street 7. Buck’s Head Building, 63 Argyle Street 8. 41-53 Oakfield Avenue 9. 42 Bute Gardens, Lilybank House 10. Northpark Terrace, 35-51 Hamilton Drive 11. The Sixty Steps, Kelvinside Terrace West 12. 1-11 Great Western Terrance 13. Westbourne Terrance, 21-39 Hyndland Road 14. 1-10 Moray Place, Strathbungo 15. ‘Ellisland’ 200 Nithsdale Road, Pollokshields 16. ‘Castlehill’ 202 Nithsdale Road, Pollokshields 17. 336 Albert Drive, Pollokshields 18. ‘The Knowe’ 301 Albert Drive, Pollokshields 19. ‘The Double Villa’ Mansionhouse Road 20. 2-38 Millbrae Crescent 21. ‘Holmwood’ Netherlee Road 22. 265-289 Allison Street/19-23 Garturk Street/34 Daisy Street 23. 1 Caledonia Road, former Caledonia Road UP Church 24. 1-8 Walmer Crescent and 1,3,5a,5b Cessnock Street Circular Bronze Plaques should be found at all locations with the exception of 3, 7 and 23. This information may be out of date now. St Vincent Street Church 
Franklin Terrace, Argyle Street 
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| james73 |
Great idea for a thread Alex. 
Will hopefully educate me a bit.... 
Alexander (Greek) Thomson - St Vincent Street UP Church, 261 St Vincent Street, 20 April 2008. 
James H |
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| Alex Glass |
Thanks James
Hopefully it will stimulate some comment 
More of the Greek 265-289 Allison Street 
A bit of detailing 
Can you spot something strange about this section? 
The plaque 
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| cybers |
Aye they did not want to pay window tax above the close... | ||||||
| AlanM |
That's pish and a common myth as they were built long after window tax was abolished- look above the blocked windows and you'll see the reason. The architect put in the fake windows to retain the rhythm and balance |
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| falseface |
How Rude | ||||||
| kev |
Ca,Doro buildingThe Ca'Doro building, situated close to Glasgow Central Station, was completely rebuilt behind its retained façade in 1989, over a century after it was built. The Union Street frontage was enhanced with two additional bays, finished with cast iron mouldings which are exact reproductions of the originals.The glass-fronted warehouse, which was completed in 1872, was designed by [John Honeyman] with a high roofed shopping arcade at ground level. In the 1920's, the luxurious Ca'Doro Restaurant, which took its name from the gilded 15th century Ca'doro Palace in Venice, occupied all the upper storeys. In keeping with the times, the patrons of the luncheon room on the 2nd floor were entertained with live music from the resident orchestra, as seen in the attached floor plan. The gentlemen could then enjoy the facilities of the smoking rooms on the floor above. The two storey banqueting hall, an ugly addition to the roof from around 1925, was converted into a popular ballroom in the 1950's. The reconstructed version of the Ca'Doro now has a slated roof, which is much more in keeping with the rest of the structure. 
At street level the shops have sculpted stone pilasters surrounding the cast iron frame, which becomes much more decorative on the upper tiers. The old building's 1920's metal window frames have been replaced with large panes of fixed glass. The natural light is further augmented by a glazed atrium roof illuminating the central core of the building. The ironwork at the upper levels is worthy of close inspection for the intricate detailing which was designed and cast at the Saracen Iron Foundry in Glasgow. The window frames are in the form of open ended figures of eight, a familiar feature of the Venetian style. |
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| Becky |
As much as I love tenenments, I'm not savvy at all about archictecture. I did think the recessed area on the left of the picture seemed to be odd, spoiling the continuity of the building. Unless there were two seperate buildings, built at different times. Peace. |
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| schiehallion |
As you say Alex, some of Thomson's work is gone including this 'topical' one, Queen's Park Terrace, Eglinton Street.
This of course, is the recently excavated site where the M74 flyover is now being built. The photo is taken from where Kilbirnie St meets Eglinton St and the photographer is looking up towards Eglinton Toll. 
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| schiehallion |
Re: Ca,Doro building
17 years after the Ca d'Oro, John Honeyman started a company with John Keppie and that year, 1889, took on an unknown 21 year old draughstman, Charles Rennie Mackintosh. |
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| schiehallion |
One of my favourite Glasgow buildings is the Stock Exchange. I can stand in Buchanan St looking at it and see something new every time!
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_aiXh2YMmHSc...AAAAACeo/FT_SQHlE1fI/DSC03606.JPG It symbolises Glasgow architecture being the work of both John Burnet (senior) who designed the very ornate square section, and his son, Sir John James Burnet who added the westerly part in Nelson Mandela Place. You can see the added section to the far right of this photo. 
These two guys were responsible for so much Glaswegian architecture. John Burnet (senior) designed amongst other things.. The Glasgow Stock Exchange Fitzroy Place The Bank Of Scotland at the corner of Carlton Place and Bridge St The Glasgow Savings bank building with the dome at the top of Glassford St and Ingram St The Clydesdale Bank HQ building in St Vincent Place The Glasgow Eye Infirmary at Charing Cross The Merchant's House at George Square Govan Burgh Halls His son Sir JJ Burnet was responsible for, amongst many, many other buildings... The Cenotaph in George Square Clyde Navigation Trust in Robertson St Athenaeum (and theatre) Charing Cross Mansions Kelvinside Railway Station Atlantic Chambers in Hope St Waterloo Chambers in Waterloo St Elder Cottage Hospital Alhambra Theatre, Wellington St Shawlands Old Parish Church Northern Assurance Building, St Vincent St Wallace Scott factory in Cathcart, now part of Scottish Power's HQ |
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| Alex Glass |
Why then the extra window on the ground floor? There is always lots of discussion about how new buildings must reflect the window line or as you point out Alan the rhythm and balance yet here can clearly be seen one of our most famous architects putting in an extra window for some reason or another and this knocks the balance. Also if you look at the window line of Franklin Terrace you can see it is clearly stepped as opposed to the photo schiehallion posted where the length of the tenement window line is straight. 
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| kev |
Alex... Top thread you have kicked off Shame I didnt wait a week with the Basil Spence thing
That photo with the guy on the motorbike is on a gradient so to keep the building level it would have to be stepped..looking forward to this |
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| Alex Glass |
Thanks Kev
Totally agree but the point I am making that sometimes it is more interesting to be different and not follow the accepted pattern. This is what makes it interesting. If you compare some of the older building you can see that these architects where not restricted to copying what another architect had produced but were possibly actively encouraged to be a little different. Maybe if we look at some modern architecture independently we may be able to appreciate it more. Just a thought 
I have more Alexander (Greek) Thomson stuff to post up later. The Sir Basil Spence stuff could be included here as well Kev. His work is interesting and worthy of a second look
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| cybers |
Heated 
It was actually meant as a joke Alan. Don't ya just love the friendly replies of a weekend... |
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| AlanM |
Wee bit of myth busting. It is a very common misconception about the window tax thing. There are very few buildings in Glasgow of an age to have been affected by it. Its just one of those things that annoys me when it gets trotted out 
Alex - he hasn't added an extra window just squeezed them up a bit to make room for the close door.
Having the windows all lined up with those above and having 1 less would have looked better and if it were to be built today I'm pretty sure Planning would demand that that was done. |
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| kev |
The Palmhouse Sefton park Liverpool..designed by Glasgow firm Mckenzie and Moncur..Hothouse builders and Heating engineers to Queen Victoria
Anyone know if they did any Glasgow hothouses |
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| schiehallion |
MacKenzie & Moncur were an Edinburgh company with an outbased office in Glasgow. Most of their work was in central and east Scotland. | ||||||
| cybers |
Pretty sure there is a plaque in Slateford Road for them will have a look see next time i am in town. | ||||||