3 Park Circus, Glasgow

16 Park Circus is a large and impressive Italianate terrace designed by Charles Wilson and built in phases between 1857 and 1873. Numbers 1 to 16 were constructed between 1857 and 1859, numbers 18 to 22 between 1861 and 1863 (with number 22 completed by J Boucher in 1872), and numbers 23 to 29 between 1872 and 1873. The terrace forms a symmetrical circus of buildings arranged around an oval garden, intersected by Park Gate (east), Park Street South, and Park Circus Place (west). The design comprises three bays per house, with three storeys and a basement. It features shallow, projecting central (nine-bay) and terminal (three-bay) pavilions.

The buildings are constructed from polished ashlar, some of which has been stonecleaned, with rusticated detailing at ground level. This rustication includes vermiculated margins and smooth keystones. Continuous horizontal bands divide the floors, and a decorative Vitruvian scroll band runs along the first floor, with particularly extensive repairs visible at numbers 23 to 29. A modillion cornice leads to a blocking course. Steps overhang the basements, leading to tripartite doorpieces featuring glazed sidelights. All ground-floor window openings are shouldered. Upper-floor windows have architraves, with a mutule cornice at the first floor level. Timber sash and case windows are fitted with plate glass or four panes of glass. Axial chimney stacks rise through slate roofs. Original cast-iron railings are present to the basement steps.

Many fine interior features survive throughout the terrace, including Corinthian screens to main rooms, elaborate cornicing and ceiling roses, fine timber panelling and fireplaces, Ionic arched screens to halls, elaborate cast-iron balusters to staircases, and carved timber newel posts. Number 18 includes a fine panelled drawing room and decorative hall designed by William Leiper in 1891. Number 22, by James Boucher, contains an exceptionally ornate interior, featuring an Art Nouveau front door, a hall with groin-vaulted mosaic cupolas supported on marble Corinthian columns, an Early Renaissance-style staircase within tunnel vaults, numerous elaborate Art Nouveau fireplaces (combining wood and marble), a leaded glass cupola over the stair, and a billiard room designed by Salmon, Son and Gillespie in 1905.

A flank elevation exists at number 9 Park Street South, a two-bay structure with a billiard room extension to the rear. It features polished ashlar, channelled at ground level, and a canted oriel window on the first floor with a cast-iron balustrade. The flank elevation of number 23, onto Park Street South, includes advanced three-bay blocks in polished, channelled ashlar. The first-floor window is consoled and corniced, while the southernmost bay has a corbelled oriel window with multi-pane glazing. A paired stack is linked by a cornice, and flanking segmental pedimented dormers are present. Mews buildings and a billiard room extend to the rear, complete with a balustraded parapet. A similarly detailed mews building exists at 22 Park Circus (number 9 Park Street South). Associated mews buildings and boundary walls are located to the rear, fronting Park Circus Lane and Park Terrace Lane.