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Connect with Glasgow’s Architecture, Connect with Glasgow, Scotland

April 21, 2012 catswhiskers Comments off

Scottish Gothic Cathedral, Glasgow, Scotland

This evening, I am following yesterday’s theme with further illustrations of Glasgow’s rich architectural heritage.

Above is the 13th century Cathedral which was designed in Scottish Gothic style. This place of worship started as Roman Catholic and is now Presbyterian. It is very unusual in that it managed to survive the upheavals of the 1560 Reformation without suffering significant physical damage.

In the image below we move to neo-Gothic style as demonstrated in the 1904 design of St. Columba Church, this being the work of Tennant and Burke. This Presbyterian Church provides for worship in both English and Gaelic.

St Columba Church, St Vincent St., Glasgow

Here is another church, this being the work of famous Glaswegian architect, Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson and was finished 1859. Thomson was inspired by the architecture of ancient Greece. The building is raised on its own man-made Acropolis on the steeply sloping site.The ionic porticoes are symbolic while the tall steeple may have some Indian influence. This St Vincent St Church is used for worship by the Free Presbyterians.

St Vincent St Church by Greek Thomson, Glasgow

Moving now to the modern era, here is the Eagle Building in Bothwell Street. Dates from 1992 and was designed by SBT Keppie. The building is steel framed with glass curtain- walling and rainscreen overcladding. The interior houses the reconstructed part of the original Eagle Building sandstone venetian facade with full cornicing, keystones and arched window details.

Eagle Building, Bothwell St., Glasgow

Finally, yet another place of worship. This is the Baptist Church in Adelaide Place which dates from 1877 and is clearly influenced by the classical period with the facade featuring Corinthian columns. Designed by T.L.Watson.

Baptist Church, Adelaide Place, Glasgow

I plan to post more examples of Glaswegian architecture in due course.

Buildings, Churches, Glasgow, Glasgow Architecture, Greek Thomson, Locations, Scotland tour, Tours none

Visit Glasgow’s Architecture, Visit Glasgow, Scotland

April 20, 2012 catswhiskers Comments off

Tay House, Bath St, Glasgow, Scotland

Today, I embarked on a trip into Glasgow to photograph a selection of the city’s noteworthy architecture, a task aided by fine and dry weather.

Above is Tay House, 300 Bath Street which was designed by Holford Associates in 1991.The building occupies a site which was formerly a car park. Cladding in salmon-pink mounted on a brick wall plinth with grey metal pillars.

Below is the iconic, Art-Deco era Beresford Building dating from 1938. Originally a hotel but now a mix of privately owned and serviced apartments.

Beresford Building, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow

Now we jump back to 1868 and the Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson designed Grecian Buildings in Sauchiehall Street. Designed as a commercial warehouse which, like most of Thomson’s work, was inspired by the architecture of ancient Greece.

Grecian Buildings, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow

This is Dalian House at 150 St Vincent St. Designed by Jenkins and Marr 1990. This structure was designed for 70 pct commercial and 30pct residential. Vertical buff coloured brick pilasters were used along the elevations with continuous long bronze-tinted double glazing between them.

Dalian House, 350 St Vincent St, Glasgow

Here is an unusual structure, the Spectrum Building in Blytheswood Street. Designed by sm+ad architects 1999-2000. Some wags have labelled it ‘ Turkey in Bacofoil’.

Spectrum Building, Blytheswood Street, Glasgow

Clearly, Glasgow has a wide range of interesting architecture to discover and admire.

Buildings, Glasgow, Glasgow Architecture, Greek Thomson, Locations, Scotland tour, Tours none

Tour Glasgow, Tour Scotland

April 17, 2012 catswhiskers Comments off

: Constantine Sarcophagus, Govan Old Church, Glasgow

This morning, I collected tour group from cruise ship at Greenock and proceeded on a tour covering some of the principal sites around Glasgow.

First we called in at Govan Old Church to view the famous Carved Stones which date from the 9th-11th centuries A.D. This collection includes the St Constantine Sarcophagus (above) which ranks as the earliest known art work in Glasgow. Below is an image of more of the stones including a ‘Hogback’.

Carved Stones, Govan Old Church, Glasgow

Next we strolled around to the waterfront at Govan to view the Clyde and Glasgow in the distance. Image below shows the Tall Ship ‘Glenlee’ and the the new Riverside Museum

Clyde Waterfront, Govan, Glasgow

Next we briefly called in at the People’s Place on historic Glasgow Green. Image below shows the Doulton Fountain, the largest terracotta fountain in the world which dates from 1888 and features carved images from around the then British Empire

Doulton Fountain, Glasgow Green, Scotland

Next to our 12.00 noon appointment for a tour of Auchentoshan Distillery, which has been producing Scotch Whisky since 1823.

Auchentoshan Distillery, Glasgow, Scotland

Here we were shown the malting, mashing, fermentation.distillation and maturation processes. Tour culminated in a tasting.

Tour Guide at Auchentoshan Distillery, Glasgow

Whisky Tasting at Auchentoshan Distillery, Glasgow

Next, we drove to the popular village of Luss to view to view Loch Lomond. Fortunately, Ben Lomond (mountain) was resplendent, basking in the sunshine with a covering of snow. This made for good photo opportunities.

Snow Capped, Ben Lomond, Scotland

: Photo Opp, Luss, Loch Lomond

Our final stop was historic Glasgow Cathedral which dates from the 13th century, albeit on a Christian site dating back to around the 5th century. This building is special in that it survived the ravages of the 1560 Reformation virtually intact. Now a Presbyterian place of worship.

Tomb of St Kentigern, Glasgow Catehdral, Scotland

Glasgow Cathedral, Glasgow, Scotland

Finally, we returned to Greenock to connect with the cruise ship.

Art, Buildings, Churches, Culture, Glasgow, Glasgow Architecture, Govan, Greenock, History, Locations, Loch Lomond, Loch Lomond, Lochs & Lakes, Luss, Mountains, Museums, Nature, Prehistory, River Clyde, Scotland tour, Tours, Whisky none

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