The Magic of Mackintosh
Barcelona has Gaudí, Chicago has Frank Lloyd Wright – Glasgow has the Art Nouveau magic of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868 – 1928) was born in Glasgow and went on to be one of the most creative figures of the 20th century and a leading figure in the European Art Nouveau movement. An architect, designer and artist, he left a legacy of magnificent workand is revered as the founding father of the‘Glasgow Style’.
This distinctive and eclectic style was developed and championed by Mackintosh and a group of local creatives who went by the moniker of ‘The Glasgow Four’. Along with Mackintosh ‘The Four’ comprised of James Herbert McNair, Margaret Macdonald, whom Mackintosh would later marry, and her sister Frances Macdonald.
The influence of Mackintosh continues to be felt and his work is celebrated by fans all over the world. One such fan is actor Brad Pitt, a design and architecture enthusiast, he has visited a number of Mackintosh attractions while in Glasgow and also cited the influence of Mackintosh’s ‘Glasgow Rose’ in his first furniture collection, which was unveiled in 2012.
Glasgow houses the pre-eminent collection of Mackintosh buildings, drawings and designs and today visitors to the city can explore the magic of Mackintosh at attractions throughout the city including:
The Glasgow School of Art,167 Renfrew St, Glasgow G3 6RQ,
The internationally lauded Glasgow School of Art is considered Mackintosh’s masterpiece and was voted by the Royal Institute of British Architects as the finest building designed by a British architect in the last 175 years.
In May 2014 a fire damaged the west wing of the Mackintosh building and as such there is currently no visitor access to the interior of the Mackintosh building whilst restoration gets underway. However, there is still plenty for visitors to do and see at The Glasgow School of Art, including GSA’s brand new 'Window on Mackintosh' visitor centre and shop in the recently completed, state of the art Reid building, with dynamic tours of the local area and the wider city departing daily
The Glasgow School of Art (GSA) has produced a number of award winning artists including Turner Prize winners Douglas Gordon and Martin Creed. Other notable alumni include Dr Who’s Peter Capaldi, Harry Potter favourite Robbie Coltrane, Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand andlegendary fashion designer and musician Pam Hogg.
The Hunterian Art Gallery and Mackintosh House, 82 Hillhead Street, University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ,
The Hunterian Art Gallery houses one of the most important collections of the work of Mackintosh and his artist-wife, Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh.
The Mackintosh House is a meticulous reassemblage of the principal interiors from the Mackintoshes’ Glasgow home. The interiors were decorated in his distinctive style, remarkable then, and now, for the disciplined austerity of the furnishings and decoration.
The house was demolished in the early 1960s but the original fixtures were preserved and reassembled, complete with the contents, as an integral part of the Hunterian Art Gallery.
Mackintosh and the Glasgow Style Gallery at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Argyle St, Glasgow G3 8AG,
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is home to the Mackintosh and the Glasgow Style Gallery, the largest permanent display of work in the world by the key names in the Glasgow Style movement. The City owns an incredible collection of objects from this internationally important period of design and the decorative arts, and the gallery showcases the techniques used – from exquisite stained glass, enamels and metalwork to ceramics, gesso, furniture and tearoom interiors.
The Willow Tea Rooms, 97Buchanan St, Glasgow, G1 3HF,
The Willow Tea Rooms on Buchanan Street have replicated the interiors of the‘White Dining Room’ and ‘Chinese Room’ from Kate Cranston’s Ingram Street Tea Rooms. The original rooms were created by Mackintosh as part of his commission from Kate Cranston.
The original Willow Tea Rooms on Sauchiehall Street were designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh for Kate Cranston in 1903. Currently closed for a 2 year refurbishment, however, visitors can enjoy the beauty of the Mackintosh design as he not only designed the interior but alsoexterior.
House for an Art Lover, Bellahouston Park, 10 Dumbreck Rd, Glasgow, G41 5BW,
House for an Art Lover, a unique visitor attraction and private dining venue, was inspired from Charles Rennie Mackintosh's portfolio of drawings of 1901, which were submitted as a competition entry to a German design magazine. His remit was: 'to design a House in a thoroughly modern style, where one can be lavishly entertained.'
The building opened to the public in 1996, recently celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The house includes a permanent exhibition of decoratively furnished rooms, realised by contemporary artists and crafts people, which allow visitors the opportunity to compare the original drawings against each completed room.
The Lighthouse, 11 Mitchell Lane, Glasgow G1 3NU,
The former Glasgow Herald Building is home to Scotland's award winning Centre for Design and Architecture. The Mackintosh Interpretation Centre contains original objects, interactive touch screens and architectural models and the Mackintosh tower with its spiral staircase provides magnificent rooftop views of Glasgow.
Scotland Street School, 225 Scotland Street, Glasgow G5 8QB,
Scotland Street School was designed between 1903 and 1906 as Mackintosh’s last major commission in Glasgow, and it shows the mature architect’s genius. The impressive leaded glass towers, magnificent tiled drill hall, carved stonework and mastery of the interplay of light and space are simply marvellous. Scotland Street School tells the story of education in Scotland from the late 19th century to the late 20th century.
Mackintosh Queen’s Cross, 870 Garscube Road, Glasgow, G20 7EL,
MackintoshQueen’s Cross is the only Mackintosh designed church to be built. The building was commissioned in 1896 by the Free Church and is notable for its magnificent stained glass, exceptional relief carving on wood and stonework and its dramatic use of light.
ENDS
For more details contact:
Fiona Potter
Marketing Communications Executive – Consumer PR
Glasgow City Marketing Bureau
Tel: +44 (0)141 566 0830 M: +44 (0) 7960 895 179
E-mail:
Barry Agnew
Marketing Communications Executive – Consumer PR
Glasgow City Marketing Bureau
Tel: +44 (0)141 566 0849 M: +44 (0) 7703 731 877
E-mail:
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