Double Villa Competition

Results

In 2016 The Alexander Thomson Society launched an international ideas competition open to architects and students of architecture to celebrate the work of Alexander Thomson, one of Glasgow’s greatest nineteenth century architects. It was launched to coincide with the 2016 Festival of Architecture and culminated in 2017 with an exhibition of the entries to mark the bicentenary of the architect’s birth.

The objective of the competition was to invite designs for a contemporary interpretation of Thomson’s ‘Double Villa’, otherwise known as the Maria Villa; an extraordinary building wherein two houses are identified as one. Designed and built between 1856 and 1857 in the then outlying district of Langside in the south of Glasgow, this modest building is one of the architect’s most intriguing and significant designs.

The results of the competition were as follows:

Winner: Thomas Woodcock
Commendation: Ben Weir
Commendation: Matt Iliffe & Cameron McCue

Special mentions:
Samuel Penn with Peter Boardman
Gordon David McGregor
Amanda Flockhart

The judging panel was led by Charlie Hussey of Sutherland Hussey Harris, Architects, John Gerard, architect and instigator of the idea for the competition, Evelyn Silber, former Director of the Hunterian Museum, Niall Murphy of Pollokshields Heritage and Glasgow City Heritage Trust, and Mark Baines, tutor and lecturer at the Mackintosh School of Architecture and Chair of the Alexander Thomson Society.

The exhibition of entries runs in The Lighthouse until 26th April on Level 5. The exhibition has been generously supported by Sutton Services International, Hobs Reprographics and The Lighthouse.

Winners

1st Prize

Thomas Woodcock

Jury Comments:

The winning project was simple in its internal arrangements and its rotational contextual dialogue with its surroundings, principally by the disposition of the pair of free standing chimneys which were the original inspiration for Woodcock’s design on the extremely challenging triangular site. The project integrated a café and a gallery at ground level which supported private terraces on the upper level. It was considered by all the judges to be a highly liveable and intelligent urban response.