“Greek Thomson” House Gets a Facelift – Holmwood Restored
“Greek Thomson” House Gets a Facelift –
Holmwood Restored
Most of us have heard of legendary US architect Frank Lloyd Wright, even if only through the Simon and Garfunkel song, but how many of us have heard of our own man Alexander “Greek” Thomson, a pioneer in sustainable building, who is said to have greatly influenced Lloyd Wright. Thomson built his masterpiece back in 1857 for a rich paper magnate and it has had some trying times. You might also remember Holmwood from the £20 note at the turn of the millennium; the dome was featured on the back of the Clydesdale bank note of that denomination.
Much Messed About
The building was once a convent and the sisters painted over some of the elaborate decoration and the house was messed about until the National Trust for Scotland saved it for the nation in 1994. Now 200 years after “Greek” Thomson’s birth a specialist painter who has worked on other Thomson houses, will work on reinstating the intricate patterns in the dining room in the original colour scheme and all for the public to see.
Glasgow’s Giants
Glasgow in the past 150 years has produced two world renowned architects, “Greek” Thomson and Charles Rennie Macintosh and their influence has been widely acknowledged, but only really Macintosh is a household name, despite Thomson’s influence on early modernist architects. He was an immense visionary in terms of the houses for the less well off he proposed, decades ahead of his time. Certainly outwith Glasgow the name of Thomson is not widely known, despite his enormous prestige while he was alive. But all that is slowly changing as his buildings are restored and appreciated by new generations of Glaswegians.
Straightforward Stuff
Now if you want some practical gifts that would complete even the most modern kitchen and dining room try the lovely gifts we have in copper and slate, nature’s finest. And if you get their quick you should find a lot of them on special offer.
