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.

Aug
18
Fri
‘Lines of Thought’ Exhibition @ The Lighthouse
Aug 18 @ 9:00 am – Oct 8 @ 5:00 pm
'Lines of Thought' Exhibition @ The Lighthouse

Lines of Thought is an exhibition about architectural drawing and representation and is devoted to the work of Alexander Thomson, one of Glasgow’s most renowned nineteenth century architects.  Curated and organised by the Alexander Thomson Society it celebrates the bicentenary of Thomson’s birth in April 1817 through a selection of original drawings by the architect and those of others who have later recorded or interpreted his work in a range of media including pen and ink measured studies, detailed digital renderings, precision models, journals, publications, sketches, film and the more abstract work of artists. The intention is to reveal the industrious, creative as well as the more complex side of the architect, his prolific imagination and uniquely creative architectural contribution to the architecture of the city of Glasgow and the Clyde estuary.

The exhibition is timed to coincide with the 13th biennial International Conference of the European Architectural Envisioning Association with a 3 day conference titled Space Time & Meaning hosted by the Glasgow School of Art and organised by the Mackintosh School of Architecture and the School of Simulation and Visualization.

Aug
30
Wed
ATS Talks: Mark Baines – Thomson and the City @ The Lighthouse
Aug 30 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
ATS Talks: Mark Baines - Thomson and the City @ The Lighthouse

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.

May
23
Wed
ATS Talks: Niall Murphy – Sir John James Burnet @ Bourdon Building - Glasgow School of Art
May 23 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
ATS Talks: Niall Murphy - Sir John James Burnet @ Bourdon Building - Glasgow School of Art

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.

Jun
27
Wed
ATS Talks: Paul O’Keeffe – ‘An Art For All To Learn’ John Ruskin on Architecture @ TBC
Jun 27 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
ATS Talks: Paul O'Keeffe - 'An Art For All To Learn' John Ruskin on Architecture @ TBC

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.

Jul
25
Wed
ATS Talks: Dominic Ferrie – James Sellars @ Bourdon Building - Glasgow School of Art
Jul 25 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
ATS Talks: Dominic Ferrie - James Sellars @ Bourdon Building - Glasgow School of Art

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.

Aug
22
Wed
ATS Talks: Helen Kendrick / Iain McGillivray – Glasgow Interiors / Holmwood @ Bourdon Building - Glasgow School of Art
Aug 22 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
ATS Talks: Helen Kendrick / Iain McGillivray - Glasgow Interiors / Holmwood @ Bourdon Building - Glasgow School of Art

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.

Oct
5
Fri
ATS Talks: The Gavin Stamp Lecture – Owen Hatherley @ St Vincent Street Church, Glasgow
Oct 5 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
ATS Talks: The Gavin Stamp Lecture - Owen Hatherley @ St Vincent Street Church, Glasgow

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.

Aug
28
Wed
ATS Talks: Anne Lyden on Thomas Annan @ Kelvin Hall
Aug 28 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
ATS Talks: Anne Lyden on Thomas Annan @ Kelvin Hall

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.

Feb
21
Fri
Symposium: Save Egyptian Halls @ The Lighthouse
Feb 21 @ 1:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Symposium: Save Egyptian Halls @ The Lighthouse

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 McConnell – Glasgow Building Preservation Trust

Dara Parsons – Historic Environment Scotland

Jamie McNamara – Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings

Apr
2
Thu
ATS Talks: The Alexander Thomson Lecture – Amin Taha @ St Vincent Street Church
Apr 2 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
ATS Talks: The Alexander Thomson Lecture - Amin Taha @ St Vincent Street Church

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 stone masonry, texture and pattern, and his abstracted use of classical forms in his Upper Street project.