DOUBLE VILLA IDEAS

COMPETITION

ORGANISERS

The Alexander Thomson Society / GIA

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SUBMISSION

January 2017​

In late 2016, the Alexander Greek Thomson Society launched an international ideas competition to celebrate the life and work of Alexander 'Greek' Thomson. The brief was to design a modern enterpretation of Thomson's 'Double Villa', otherwise known as Villa Maria. The chosen site was a triangular shaped piece of land in Pollockshields, Glasgow which is overlooked by the presence of three buildings designed by Thomson.

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Our reimagined double villa is placed on a north/south axis providing east and west facing gardens to the front and rear of each house.  Centred on Terregles Avenue, the villa provides a termination to the street.  Vehicular access is provided via the quieter, Kildronstan Street. The double villa consumes the whole triangular site, allowing for double garage parking and large private gardens.

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In plan, two identical semi-detached houses are rotated about each other in the same manner as Villa Maria with appearance of one large villa. A masonry colonnade façade defines the front elevation maximizing light into the living spaces and wrapping around the car ports beyond.  Retrained solid/void arrangement gives more privacy to these live/work units. A second storey crow’s next provides vertical amplification to asymmetrical elevation.

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We were delighted that our competition entry received a Special Mention....read more