Glasgow EuroWalk

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 ...

THIS PAGE IS UNDER DEVELOPMENT !! Coming soon !! History of Glasgow School of Art: https://www.gsa.ac.uk/about-gsa/history-and-future/our-history/   Very interesting history of Paris born French Professor of Architectural Design at the Glasgow School of Art:   Eugene Bourdon -  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Bourdon_(architect)   - He was the School's first professor of Architectural Design and his teaching had a huge influence on the architecture seen in Glasgow. He was killed in 1916 at the Battle of the Somme. https://www.gsa.ac.uk/about-gsa/eugene-bourdon/ Further work on this page will be done as our Eurowalk develops. Interesting links here about how Glasgow embraced some of the modern ideas from the Continent in regards to new art and architecture movements -  https://www.19thc-artworldwide.org/index.php/autumn14/wieber-on-the-battle-for-the-mack#_ftn24 For future info ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Rennie_Mackintosh Map Reference : ...

At 336-356 Sauchiehall Street, there is a building designed by Alexander "Greek" Thomson, the famous Glasgow architect. Picture Attrib: Stinglehammer, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons  Designed by Alexander "Greek" Thomson.  More about Alexander "Greek" Thomson, who also designed the Bucks Head Building on one of our Euro Walking Tour routes !  https://blog.engineshed.scot/2020/04/09/alexander-greek-thomson-glasgows-visionary-builder/   as well as numerous other interesting buildings in Glasgow. Map Reference: Eurowalk 4: Woodlands to Sauchiehall

The design of Wellington Church on University Avenue was reputedly based on that of La Madeleine in Paris. Wellington Church Photo: J. Wilson Map Reference: Eurowalk 5: Around Kelvingrove

On Buchanan Street, this interesting building was designed by architect John James Burnet, who had studied in Paris for two years and also made a study tour of Italy to study Baroque architecture. You will still see that is the carving "Atheneum" can be seen above the entrance. This was a purpose-built drama school!  Photos : J. Wilson If you visit the interior that is now used as a bar/restaurant you can see hints of the original purpose in the architecture. The theatre school itself now exists as the "New Athenaeum" in the Royal Conservatoire  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_James_Burnet   (lots of interior photos at http://www.scottishcinemas.org.uk/glasgow/oldath.html ) - see also Athenaeum theatre in Nelson Mandela Square ... they studied English French German and Italian http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Glasgow/AthenaeumGlasgow.htm Image : J.Wilson And here is a link to some recent teaching methods that have European links that have been happening at the Royal ...

The Willow Tea Rooms Photos : J Wilson At 97 Buchanan Street. this tea room was one of a number of buildings in Glasgow that were designed by Glasgow's famous architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. The building also features work by Margaret MacDonald Mackintosh.  Upon the death of architect Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson in 1875, a travelling scholarship was founded in his name and awarded every three years for the study of ancient classical architecture. In 1890, Charles Rennie Mackintosh was awarded this scholarship and embarked on a sketching tour to Italy. Other Mackintosh buildings to visit in the City: In the town centre there is Mackintosh at the Willow on Sauchiehall Street, The Lighthouse building off Buchanan Street and the site of Glasgow School of Art but sadly it has currently burned down in a recent fire, but the location may be of interest nonetheless. and in the West End there is the Mackintosh House. On Maryhill Road there is the Mackintosh Church And in Bellahouston P...

On the corner of Union Street and Gordon Street in the town centre of Glasgow, is this magnificent building modelled on the Ca D'Oro building in Venice. It is now Category A listed.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ca_d%27Oro_Building The Ca D'Oro Building photos by J. Wilson More information: https://www.theglasgowstory.com/image/?inum=TGSA05148 Map Reference: Eurowalk 6: Around the Town Centre