James Thomson (architect)
Encyclopedia
James Thomson was the former City Engineer, City Architect, and Housing Director of Dundee
, Scotland
. He originally planned an immense Beaux Arts style Civic Centre covering the centre of Dundee
. At the onset of First World War, his plans were scaled down and he retired in 1924.
He was the designer behind the progressive ideas such as the ‘Kingsway’ City Bypass, combined road widening and slum clearance, the Craigie Garden City Estate and the first ever district heated housing scheme at Logie
. After Thomson's death in 1927 his former assistant, James MacLellan Brown
, as Deputy City Architect, remodelled Burnet's designs in 1931.
, he got professional training in Architecture
and Civil Engineering
. As a young man, he came to Dundee
to join the staff of the Burgh
Surveyor
. Soon after taking the duty he was employed in connection with important schemes then being executed under the Improvement Act of 1871. Those undertakings, which, to a large extent, transformed the central area of the city
, were carried under his personal supervision. The construction of the Perth Road and the first tram
way lines in Dundee were accomplished under his direction.
Engineer
after the constructions of Perth Road and tramlines. After the death of William Alexander, he was appointed as City Architect
, and in August 1906, he was given the post of City Engineer in succession to Mackison, becoming, in pursuance of the Council’s Policy of Consolidation, the joint holder of the offices of City Architect and Engineer.
In October 1922, the Town Council
decided to separate the offices of City Engineering and City Architect, which the latter office embraced the duties of Housing Director. Thomson was relieved of the office of City Engineer and became City Architect and Housing Director.
Thomson retired in May 1924, but was retained in the capacity and continued to engage in professional life in association with his son Frank Thomson.
He spent 55 years in the service of the corporation. His fondest hope and expressed desire was to have the Caird Hall Square
completed “in his time”.
, combined road widening and slum
clearance, which was proposed, “…so that the city might expand advantageously and scientifically and get away from the old fashioned methods." He planned the Craigie Garden City Estate and the first ever district heated housing scheme at Logie
.Thomson's ideas for extending City Square
were developed again in 1924, when the Ecole de Beaux Arts
trained Sir John James Burnet
was commissioned to produce designs for the east and west wings to City Square
.
, Thomson collapsed and died almost immediately. A woman called who awaited the Lord Provost
saw him fall in the main corridor. She informed Lord Provost High and S. G. Fraser, with whom he was engaged at the moment, and they ran to his assistance. Thomson made a vain effort to speak but died in the arms of Fraser. Dr. Hunter, who was called, certified that the death to have been due to heart failure.
At the time of death he was engaged on some of the minor details relating to the scheme for the erection of the East Wing. His funeral took palace in Balgay Cemetery in November 14, 1927.
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. He originally planned an immense Beaux Arts style Civic Centre covering the centre of Dundee
City Centre, Dundee
Until the industrial revolution the current City Centre represented the full extent of the City of Dundee. Now roughly encircled by the Marketgait dual carriageway, the city centre is now the main shopping and commercial district...
. At the onset of First World War, his plans were scaled down and he retired in 1924.
He was the designer behind the progressive ideas such as the ‘Kingsway’ City Bypass, combined road widening and slum clearance, the Craigie Garden City Estate and the first ever district heated housing scheme at Logie
Logie, Dundee
Logie is a residential area of the City of Dundee, Scotland. It is located north of Blackness Road, bounded by Blackness Road, Balgay Road, Scott Street and Glenagnes Road...
. After Thomson's death in 1927 his former assistant, James MacLellan Brown
James MacLellan Brown
James MacLellan Brown was the City Architect of Dundee, Scotland, known for remodelling of Sir John James Burnet's designs and designing the Mills Observatory ....
, as Deputy City Architect, remodelled Burnet's designs in 1931.
Early life
A native of EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, he got professional training in Architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
and Civil Engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
. As a young man, he came to Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
to join the staff of the Burgh
Burgh
A burgh was an autonomous corporate entity in Scotland and Northern England, usually a town. This type of administrative division existed from the 12th century, when King David I created the first royal burghs. Burgh status was broadly analogous to borough status, found in the rest of the United...
Surveyor
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
. Soon after taking the duty he was employed in connection with important schemes then being executed under the Improvement Act of 1871. Those undertakings, which, to a large extent, transformed the central area of the city
City Centre, Dundee
Until the industrial revolution the current City Centre represented the full extent of the City of Dundee. Now roughly encircled by the Marketgait dual carriageway, the city centre is now the main shopping and commercial district...
, were carried under his personal supervision. The construction of the Perth Road and the first tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
way lines in Dundee were accomplished under his direction.
Career
He became the Assistant BurghBurgh
A burgh was an autonomous corporate entity in Scotland and Northern England, usually a town. This type of administrative division existed from the 12th century, when King David I created the first royal burghs. Burgh status was broadly analogous to borough status, found in the rest of the United...
Engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
after the constructions of Perth Road and tramlines. After the death of William Alexander, he was appointed as City Architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, and in August 1906, he was given the post of City Engineer in succession to Mackison, becoming, in pursuance of the Council’s Policy of Consolidation, the joint holder of the offices of City Architect and Engineer.
In October 1922, the Town Council
Politics of Dundee
Politics in the Dundee City council area are evident in the deliberations and decisions of Dundee City Council, in elections to the council, and in elections to the Scottish Parliament and the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom .In the European Parliament, the city area is...
decided to separate the offices of City Engineering and City Architect, which the latter office embraced the duties of Housing Director. Thomson was relieved of the office of City Engineer and became City Architect and Housing Director.
Thomson retired in May 1924, but was retained in the capacity and continued to engage in professional life in association with his son Frank Thomson.
He spent 55 years in the service of the corporation. His fondest hope and expressed desire was to have the Caird Hall Square
City Centre, Dundee
Until the industrial revolution the current City Centre represented the full extent of the City of Dundee. Now roughly encircled by the Marketgait dual carriageway, the city centre is now the main shopping and commercial district...
completed “in his time”.
Visionary
The media referred him as the “creator of innumerable schemes to make Dundee the City Beautiful.” Thomson’s report on the development of the city issued in 1918 was an example of his visions and daring conceptions. He was the man behind the construction of Kingsway City BypassBypass (road)
A bypass is a road or highway that avoids or "bypasses" a built-up area, town, or village, to let through traffic flow without interference from local traffic, to reduce congestion in the built-up area, and to improve road safety....
, combined road widening and slum
Slum
A slum, as defined by United Nations agency UN-HABITAT, is a run-down area of a city characterized by substandard housing and squalor and lacking in tenure security. According to the United Nations, the percentage of urban dwellers living in slums decreased from 47 percent to 37 percent in the...
clearance, which was proposed, “…so that the city might expand advantageously and scientifically and get away from the old fashioned methods." He planned the Craigie Garden City Estate and the first ever district heated housing scheme at Logie
Logie
If you searched for Logie you may be looking for:*Logie, Dundee, a residential area in the City of Dundee, Scotland*Logie Coldstone, an Aberdeenshire village north of the River Dee in Scotland*The Logie Award, the Australian television industry awards...
.Thomson's ideas for extending City Square
City Centre, Dundee
Until the industrial revolution the current City Centre represented the full extent of the City of Dundee. Now roughly encircled by the Marketgait dual carriageway, the city centre is now the main shopping and commercial district...
were developed again in 1924, when the Ecole de Beaux Arts
École des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts refers to a number of influential art schools in France. The most famous is the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, now located on the left bank in Paris, across the Seine from the Louvre, in the 6th arrondissement. The school has a history spanning more than 350 years,...
trained Sir John James Burnet
John James Burnet
Sir John James Burnet was a Scottish Edwardian architect who was noted for a number of prominent buildings in Glasgow, Scotland and London, England...
was commissioned to produce designs for the east and west wings to City Square
Town square
A town square is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town used for community gatherings. Other names for town square are civic center, city square, urban square, market square, public square, and town green.Most town squares are hardscapes suitable for open markets,...
.
Death
On November 10, 1927, in one of the corridors of the City Chambers, Caird HallCaird Hall
The Caird Hall is the principal concert auditorium in Dundee, Scotland.Built between 1914 and 1923 and named after its benefactor, the jute baron James Key Caird, the Caird Hall regularly hosts the Royal Scottish National Orchestra....
, Thomson collapsed and died almost immediately. A woman called who awaited the Lord Provost
Lord Provost
A Lord Provost is the figurative and ceremonial head of one of the principal cities of Scotland. Four cities, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow, have the right to appoint a Lord Provost instead of a provost...
saw him fall in the main corridor. She informed Lord Provost High and S. G. Fraser, with whom he was engaged at the moment, and they ran to his assistance. Thomson made a vain effort to speak but died in the arms of Fraser. Dr. Hunter, who was called, certified that the death to have been due to heart failure.
At the time of death he was engaged on some of the minor details relating to the scheme for the erection of the East Wing. His funeral took palace in Balgay Cemetery in November 14, 1927.
Sources
- McKean, Charles and David Walker, Dundee: Illusteated Architectural Guide, Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, Pillans & Wilson Ltd., Reprint 1993.
- Dundee public Library Archives.
- The Courier, Pioneer in Town Planning Mr. James Thomson Dies in Caird hall, Friday Nov. 11, 1927
- The Courier, Funeral of Mr. James Thomson, Nove. 15, 1927