Bucks Head Building
One of many interesting buildings built/designed by Alexander "Greek" Thomson in 1862-1863, this is the first building where he used elevated iron columns within his neo-classical designs. Today, it is still a major city landmark. The building was renovated in 2003 and today contains a Caffe Nerro. This building was the only time that "Greek" Thomson used a combination of elevated iron columns with a trabeated façade. The external supports are apparently largely structural rather than ornamental. The deer sculpture on the top of the current building was carved by well known Glasgow sculptor John Mossman.
The building replaced a popular hotel which had been on the site since the 1750s, the Bucks Head Hotel: https://www.theglasgowstory.com/image/?inum=TGSA03551. The hotel had originally been built as the home of Provost John Murdoch (1709 - 1776), a leading Glasgow merchant and Provost three times.
Alexander "Greek" Thomson designed numerous other buildings throughout Glasgow. In the city centre, you can visit the Grecian Chambers he designed on Sauchiehall Street are worth a look which is on our suggested Eurowalk 4.
Also the St Vincent Street church is worth a visit - https://blog.engineshed.scot/2020/04/09/alexander-greek-thomson-glasgows-visionary-builder/
More about the Bucks Head building: https://scottishheritage.wordpress.com/2017/04/16/bucks-head-building-argyle-street-glasgow/
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