An exhibition celebrating the entries submitted for The Alexander Thomson Society’s Double Villa Competition.

American architect and Renaissance architecture expert Gary Paul will discuss the work of Andrea Palladio, whilst also referring to the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and Alexander Thomson.

Andrea Palladio’s work has been valued as the quintessence of High Renaissance calm and harmony. His reputation is based on his skill as a designer of villas, located in what was the Venetian Republic in northeastern Italy. Palladio’s teachings, summarized in the architectural treatise, The Four Books of Architecture, gained him recognition around the world.

Gary Paul is a graduate of the schools of Architecture at the Boston Architectural Center (B Arch) and Harvard Graduate School of Design (M Arch). He has maintained a design practice in New York City for 30 years, working on homes, apartments and small commercial projects. Gary’s work has been featured in magazines such as House Beautiful, House & Garden and Veranda, Country Living and The Chicago Tribune/Homes, NY Women; and in articles in the Detroit Free Press, and The New York Observer, and The New York Times.

Gary has taught and served as Design Critic in Architecture and Interior Design Courses at New York University, City College, Harvard, Yale, the Univ. of Illinois (Chicago), the Roycemore School, Parsons School of Design, NY Institute of Technology and The Boston Architectural Center. A lifelong love of the work of Renaissance Architect Andrea Palladio has taken Gary on countless research trips across the north of Italy to study Palladio’s many villas and public buildings.

Gary has sought out the work of Palladio’s late Renaissance predecessors, such as Giulio Romano, Alberti, and Scamozzi, as well as the frescoed interiors by artists such as Veronese and Tiepolo, (father and son), in many of these buildings. He has also researched the political, cultural and religious forces which shaped the Veneto in the 16C giving greater context to this rich period of artistic endeavor.

In order to share his passion Gary has orchestrated and has led tours for clients, design industry professionals, and other architecture enthusiasts Gary’s tours traverse the backroads of the Veneto and up into the pre-Alps, from Mantua to Treviso, incorporating time for detours to view modern works such as those of the 20c architect Scarpa, to hidden treasures such as the Canova Museum, and, to magnificent walled towns such as Marostica and Sabbioneta and Asolo as well as, of course the Museum Palladio in Vicenza.

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.

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.

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

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.