This is the first full biography of two of Scotland's most eminent
Architects, James Miller and John James Burnet. While born just three
years apart into very different circumstances - Burnet was the son of a
wealthy Glasgow architect and Miller a farmer's son - their careers and
lives became intertwined as they competed for work and eventually the
role of Scotland's leading architect. Born in 1857 and 1860
respectively, one inherited and the other established successful
practices in Glasgow at the zenith of that city's wealth in the late
19th century.John James Burnet, who was educated at the École des Beaux
Arts in Paris, and led his profession in Glasgow in the latter years of
the 19th and early years of the 20th centuries, produced many of the
city's finest buildings. These include The Athenaeum on Buchanan Street;
Charing Cross Mansions; numerous city-centre commercial buildings such
as Waterloo Chambers and Atlantic Chambers and the Townhouses on
University Avenue. After moving to London, his work included the
extension of the British Museum, The Daily Telegraph Building on Fleet
Street and Adelaide House by London Bridge. Burnet was knighted and
awarded the RIBA's Gold Medal in 1923 and is recognized as one of
Scotland's finest architects. James Miller is simply Scotland's most
prolific architect. During his long career he designed The Empire
Exhibition of 1901, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow Central Station,
Wemyss Bay Station, St Enoch's Underground Station, Turnberry Hotel,
Peebles Hydro Hotel, Gleneagles Hotel, the interiors of the SS Lusitania
and SS Aquitania, Hampden Park, Forteviot Model Village, the Institution
of Civil Engineers in Westminster, numerous banks, commercial buildings
and churches in Glasgow and beyond as well as schools, country houses,
factories and town halls. Despite this extraordinary output and his
considerable architectural contribution to Scotland's heritage, he has
received relatively little acclaim, until now.This is a fascinating
double biography, the story of Burnet and Miller's parallel lives and
work, set against the background of the booming Empire's 'Second City'.
