One of the many buildings in Glasgow built by Alexander “Greek” Thomson still remaining almost in its original state is Holmwood House in the south of Glasgow. The NTS have recently restored it as far as possible to the way it would have been in 1858. Thomson was one on the most influential of Scottish architects and in 1857 was commissioned to design an unusual house for a millowner. James Couper. He was greatly influenced by Greek architecture and Holmwood is considered Thompson's finest work, with columns and Greek motifs outside and ornate examples of beautifully decorated interiors based on the classical world, with marble, ornate plasterwork, and richly carved wooden decoration. One of the highlights is the dining room, with a frieze depicting the story of Homer's Iliad. The collage shows some of the interior including the cupula above the staircase and the floor in the drawing room with carefully chosen wooden floor boards decorated with studs of ebony and ivory. Although its architecture is very distinctive and would have been impressive to Victorian visitors it is not a house that I would have liked to have lived in as it seemed fairly dark inside.
See Brianblip entry for a very comprehensive group of photos and links to the house.
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