Organised by the Balfron Heritage Group.

Meet at the Balfron Library.

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 assistance can contact the Society at info@alexanderthomsonsociety.org.uk

Eric established Eric Parry Architects in 1983. Under his leadership, the practice has developed a reputation for delivering beautifully crafted and well considered buildings that respond to their context. London has been the focus and the setting for most of his work.

Eric Parry Architects is renowned for cultural projects involving sensitive historic buildings such as the restoration of St Martin-in-the-Fields Church in Trafalgar Square and the highly acclaimed new extension for the Holburne Museum of Art in Bath. He has also worked on several highly prestigious commercial projects in London’s City and West End, including Stirling Prize shortlisted schemes at 30 Finsbury Square and 5 Aldermanbury Square, and the recently completed One Eagle Place in Piccadilly. Clients include The Crown Estate, Generali, Aviva, Henderson Global Investors and Argent.

In addition to his work in architectural practice, Eric serves on the Royal Academy Architecture Committee, the RIBA Library Committee, the Kettle’s Yard Committee, the Canterbury Cathedral Fabric Advisory Committee, the Mayor’s Design Advisory Panel and the Council of the British School at Rome. He has in the past served on the Arts Council of England’s Visual Arts and Architecture panel, chaired the RIBA Awards Group and was President of the Architectural Association.

He was elected Royal Academician in 2006 and awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Arts from the University of Bath in 2012.

His contribution to academia includes 14 years as Lecturer in Architecture at the University of Cambridge and lectureships at the Graduate Design School, Harvard University and the Tokyo Institute of Technology.

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.

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 career through introducing his process and showcasing a selection of the historic buildings he’s worked on.

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 with material and decoration. He will discuss the output of Groupwork and some of his ongoing projects and research.

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.