RCAHMS is pleased to be a partner in the project ‘One hundred houses for one hundred European architects of the twentieth century’. Organised from the Politecnico di Milano and funded by the ‘Culture 2000’ programme of the European Union, the project focuses on a common European heritage constituted by the residential houses/homes of the most important modern European Architects. Twenty institutions from 16 countries have come together as the Modern European Architecture – Museum Net, to create a travelling exhibition, a web site, a catalogue and a conference.

The exhibition comprises of a forest of life-size images of 100 architects with photographs and drawings of their own houses, where the personality of the Architect is expressed through his or her own house. The exhibition was first shown at La Triennale di Milano in September/October 2001 and will tour a selection of the partner institutions (dates and venues to be confirmed). It was most recently held at The Lighthouse, Glasgow and images from the exhibition can be seen below. RCAHMS is grateful for the support of the Architecture Policy Unit of the Scottish Government and The Lighthouse in bringing this exhibition to Scotland.

Find out more about this exhibition at the official website: http://www.meamnet.polimi.it

RCAHMS is represented by two houses – A N Paterson’s Long Croft, in Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute and L G Thomson’s Srongarbh, in West Linton, The Scottish Borders. These examples sit alongside houses by Alvar Aalto, Ralph Erskine, Antoni Gaudi, Erno Goldfinger, Walter Gropius, Le Corbusier, Adolf Loos, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Enric Miralles, James Stirling, Aldo Van Eyck and Otto Wagner, as well as many less familiar names.

A selection of the images used in the exhibition can be seen below - click on an image to view the full-size version. Prints of all images can be obtained by contacting RCAHMS directly at info@rcahms.gov.uk quoting the name of the site or building, the SC number, the size and nature of each image required. A price list of services for photographs, digital images and other copies can be found under the price list page.

Alexander Nisbet Paterson (1862-1947) designed the Long Croft in Helensburgh, 1900-02, as a family home but also as a setting for his artistic creations as well as those of his wife, the embroideress and still-life painter Maggie Hamilton (1867-1952), and their circle of artistic friends. In addition it was to be the embodiment of Paterson’s ideas on a national Scottish architecture, while embracing the practical aspects of planning learnt from American domestic architecture. The photographs of the house with the family in residence were probably taken in 1908 by Paterson’s brother James.

They provide an unusually intimate portrait of the family’s life in the house. Maggie Paterson is shown at her embroidery frame in the drawing room bow, sitting beneath the Guthrie & Wells stained-glass panel dedicated to embroidery. Mary Viola is shown at her piano beneath a Baroque embroidered altar-frontal. The image of Paterson at his drawing board in his studio shows the desk and chimney-piece (with ornamentation by George Walton) he designed himself.

West elevation of the Long Croft, 1/8 Inch = 1 Foot, c.1900. Ink and colour wash.
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First floor plan of the Long Croft, ¼ Inch = 1 Foot, c.1900. Ink and colour wash.
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Maggie Paterson at her embroidery frame in the drawing room of the Long Croft, c.1908.
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Mary Viola Paterson at the piano in the drawing room of the Long Croft, c.1908.
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Srongarbh, West Linton, was designed by Leslie Grahame Thomson (1896-1974) for his first wife Barbara Mary Henderson as their marital home, 1934-35. It was designed to be a grand house with an impressive sweeping entrance, yet it is relatively small in size. The house was for living and entertaining in, with the garden an integral part of the scheme. The extensive terraced gardens are accessed directly from the lounge and dining room through the large arched and glazed doorways. Srongarbh has several characteristics of a Scottish Arts and Crafts house, particularly in its prominent chimney breasts, but it also demonstrates evidence of a Mediterranean influence with its pergola, loggia, balconies and swimming pool.

Leslie Grahame Thomson (1896-1974) in his kilt. Photographed by Stephens Orr for the RIAS Quarterly, Autumn 1956. Copyright: RIAS.
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Early presentation drawing of Srongarbh (not as built) showing ground and first floor plans, north east and south west elevations, c.1934. Pencil and colour wash on board.
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View of Srongarbh from the south west, 1995.
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The lounge at Srongarbh, 1995.
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The entrance hall with main stair, Srongarbh, 1995.
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