Introduction to Charles Rennie Mackintosh
Welcome to Glasgow, the former home of architect, Charles Rennie Mackintosh where can be found a rich architecture and design legacy attributed to Mackintosh.
Mackintosh ( 1868-1928) was an outstanding, Glasgow born architect and designer who pioneered the Modern Movement. He was famous for designing every aspect of a project down to such details as cutlery, furniture and light fittings.
With careful planning, most of the Glasgow sites listed below can be visited with one day. However, Hill House at Helensburgh is about thirty miles to the north West of Glasgow.
Overview of Charles Rennie Mackintosh Sites
Firstly, there is the Mackintosh House at the Hunterian Art Gallery, University of Glasgow which comprises the recreated interior of 6 Florentine Terrace, meticulously reassembled within the University’s Art Gallery. Mackintosh and Margaret Macdonald resided at Florentine Terrace from 1906-1914. This extends to three rooms and related furniture. Tours are available. Check website for details.
Secondly, there are Mackintosh sites in Glasgow city viz:
Daily Record Building in Renfield Lane. Visit mainly confined to views of exterior although refreshment can be obtained at restaurant inside.
The famous Willow Tea Rooms at 217 Sauchiehall Street. Sauchiehall means “alley of the willows” and throughout the rooms Mackintosh used the willow motif. In 1903-4 at Sauchiehall Street Mackintosh provided the complete interiors and front façade of the building which Miss Catherine Cranston bought in 1901. Usually open. Check website for details.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum: This holds the Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Glasgow Style Gallery. Open most days. Check website for details.
Glasgow School of Art: A new plot for the School was acquired in 1895 and the Glasgow architect firm of Honeyman and Keppie (with which Mackintosh was associated) won the design competition. This building is considered Mackintosh’s masterpiece and has been called the most important building worldwide in that decade. The north façade exactly reflects the internal plan of the building, resulting in a triumph of balanced asymmetry. Sadly, this building was subject of extensive fire damage in 2014 and 2018. Views of exterior only whilst restoration is undertaken.
Scotland Street School Museum. Here Mackintosh reversed tradition and gave the towers with conical roofs walls of glass with narrow stone mullions. Instead of spiral stairs he used straight flights, which benefited from the light which streams into them. Mackintosh played off the verticality of the towers against the horizontal nature of the rest of the building. Open most days. Check website for details.
Opposite the Glasgow School of Art is the new Reid Building (2014) containing Mackintosh furniture. Tours of this building are available.
House for an Art Lover. This is located in Bellahouston Park and close to the Burrell Collection. Mackintosh’s plans for Haus Eines Kunstfreundes languished for 90 years until 1989 when Graham Roxburgh, an engineer, had the idea to build it. It was eventually completed in 1996. Rooms include the Main Room, Dining Room, Oval Room, Music Room and the Margaret Macdonald Room. Tours are available.
Mackintosh Church at Queen’s Cross (1897-1899). This is the only standing church designed by Mackintosh. The building is no longer used for worship and is now the Mackintosh Society’s HQ. Mackintosh used space and light to dramatic effect. A particular feature is the stained glass and internal carvings. Check website for access times.
Ruchill Church Hall. A well planned minor work. Still in use as a community centre. Located close to the Mackintosh Church. Access depends on whether Hall is open at time of visit.
Lighthouse: Now Scotland’s Centre for design and Architecture.This was the former Glasgow Herald (newspaper) building and as such represented Rennie Mackintosh’s first public commission. Here can be found a floor dedicated to Mackintosh. Usually open to the public.
Finally, there is the famous Hill House at Upper Colquhoun Street, Helensburgh. This dates from 1902-4 when Mackintosh was at the height of his powers. The design blends tradition with modernity and benefits from superb views over the Clyde Estuary. Hill House is owned by the National Trust for Scotland and is open March-October when tours of the house and garden are available. Check website for details.
More information on Mackintosh and Arts & Crafts in Scotland
Refer Visitors’ Guide to Scotland, ISBN 978-1-9161332-0-4