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.

Mar
29
Wed
ATS Talks: Prof Dean Hawkes – Soane and London @ The Reid Building, Glasgow School of Art
Mar 29 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
ATS Talks: Prof Dean Hawkes - Soane and London @ The Reid Building, Glasgow School of Art

The second in our 2017 series of talks is by Professor Dean Hawkes.

His talk will focus on the work of Sir John Soane, in particular his house at Lincoln’s Inn Fields, the Law Courts at Westminster (long ago demolished, but remarkable), the Bank of England and the Dulwich Picture Gallery. When Sir John Soane died in 1837, Alexander Thomson was 20 years old. The two men were therefore, just, contemporaries. They also shared a deep engagement in applying the ‘classical language of architecture’, in Summerson’s terminology, in the transformation of two great cities, London and Glasgow. This lecture explores Soane’s response to London at the dawn of the 19th century.

We are delighted to confirm that the venue for this talk will be the Seona Reid Building at the Glasgow School of Art, providing an opportunity to experience the interior of Steven Holl’s new addition to the campus. Both Holl in Glasgow and Soane in London share a desire to manipulate and modulate light in their interiors.

Professor Dean Hawkes:
Emeritus Professor of Architectural Design, Welsh School of Architecture.
Emeritus Fellow, Darwin College, Cambridge.
Visiting Professor, Mackintosh School of Architecture, 2004-2009.
Four RIBA Awards for Architecture in partnership with Stephen Greenberg, 1983-1994.
RIBA Annie Spink Award for Architectural Education (2010),

His published works include:
The Environmental Tradition (1996)
The Environmental Imagination (2008)
Architecture and Climate (2012)
The buildings of Sir John Soane (1753-1837) are discussed in all the above.

Apr
8
Sat
Balfron Photography Exhibition @ Balfron Library
Apr 8 – May 6 all-day
Balfron Photography Exhibition @ Balfron Library

BALFRON’S “GREEK” THOMSON BICENTENARY EXHIBITION:

Hosted by Balfron Heritage Group, FREE Exhibition of the photographs of Phil Sayer and other complementary images. From 8th April to 6th May 2017 in Balfron Library during normal Library hours.

Apr
10
Mon
Balfron Finale Concert @ Balfron Church
Apr 10 @ 4:50 pm – 5:50 pm
Balfron Finale Concert @ Balfron Church
Balfron Heritage Group and  Balfron Community Singers’ are hosting a finale concert to mark the conclusion of Balfron’s bicentenary celebrations.
A new Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson pipe tune, written by piper Daniel McDermott and commissioned by Jim Thomson of Balfron Heritage Group will be premiered at the event.
This concert will be at 7pm on Saturday 29th April in Balfron Church with tickets (£4/£2) available from Balfron Library (01360 440407) during normal library hours.
Apr
13
Thu
Speculations On Infinity @ John McLintock Hall
Apr 13 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Speculations On Infinity @ John McLintock Hall

“SPECULATIONS ON INFINITY”:

Short one-man play narrated by the man himself. This will be accompanied by a 1960s film on Thomson’s architecture from the NLS Film Archive. Thursday 13th April : 7.30pm in the John McLintock Hall, Dunmore St., Balfron. FREE but ticketed in advance (due to numbers). Tickets from Balfron Library

Apr
15
Sat
Balfron Local History Walk @ Balfron Library
Apr 15 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Balfron Local History Walk @ Balfron Library

Organised by the Balfron Heritage Group.

Meet at the Balfron Library.

Balfron Local History Walk @ Balfron Library
Apr 15 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Balfron Local History Walk @ Balfron Library

Organised by the Balfron Heritage Group.

Meet at the Balfron Library.

Apr
20
Thu
Balfron Local History Walk @ Balfron Library
Apr 20 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Balfron Local History Walk @ Balfron Library

Organised by the Balfron Heritage Group.

Meet at the Balfron Library.