How to See Charles Rennie Mackintosh Design in Glasgow

Posted by Anonymous , 9/4/2007 Tags:SeeCharlesRennieMackintoshDesignGlasgow

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Introduction Art Nouveau flourished in Glasgow under the name of the “Glasgow Style”. Although

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Introduction

Art Nouveau flourished in Glasgow under the name of the a??Glasgow Stylea??. Although it had quite a few notable practitioners, most of whom emerged from the Glasgow School of Art, Charles Rennie Mackintosh was pre-eminent among them. His genius for design left a permanent mark on Glasgow, making itself felt in everyday objects such as chairs and lamp-posts as well as the large-scale buildings for which today he is renowned.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Steps

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Step One

Visit the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society website (see Resources). It should tell you whether there are any festivals or special events related to Charles Rennie Mackintosh going on in the city.
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Step Two

Use the website to get some background information about Mackintosh and his major works.
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Step Three

Use the itinerary planner feature on the website to plot a route through the city that will allow you to see the works you're most interested in.
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Step Four

Visit the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. The museum features a permanent exhibition called a??Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the Glasgow Stylea?? which traces the evolution of the Art Nouveau scene in Glasgow. You can see some examples of the work of both Mackintosh and his contemporaries who, although not as distinguished as he was, did produce some fine art too.
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Step Five

Enjoy tea at the Willow Tea Rooms, designed by Mackintosh for Kate Cranston in the early 20th century. Though the original installations were lost when the Cranston Tea Room businesses were sold, Mackintosh's designs have been perfectly recreated, offering an elegant dining experience in beautiful surroundings. There are two Willow Tea Rooms in Glasgow city centre, one in Sauchiehall Street and one in Buchanan Street. You can book luncheon in both online or just turn up for tea (see Resources).
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Step Six

Visit the Glasgow School of Art. Buried in a back street in unassuming surroundings, the Glasgow School of Art was Mackintosh's crowning achievement and is considered by many critics to be one of the true masterpieces of 20th century architecture.

Tips & Warnings

  • A Mackintosh Trail ticket is available from Glasgow Tourist Information centres and Scottish Passenger Transport (SPT) offices. For single price, it covers your admission to most of the Mackintosh-related attractions in the city and grants you free use of many public transport facilities to travel between them.
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