In 1896, when Charles Rennie Mackintosh was 28 years old, he entered a competition to design a new building for the Glasgow School of Art. The constraints of designing this building were large, the plot of land for the school was narrow and steep. Mackintosh's design was a success and put him on the map as a "Pioneer of the Modern Movement".

The West Entrance

Relief above main doorway

Work began on his design in 1897 but only the eastern part of the building was built because of financial limitations. The west wing of the school wasn't completed until 1907. The period of 1897 to 1907 was Mackintosh's most successful and prolific. With his ideas rapidly changing, his originals plans for the west wing were discarded and a more adventurous design undertaken.

Although the building seems austere, the decorative detailing is breathtaking, stamping Machintosh's style on it. From the relief above the main doorway, to the insect stylised iron railings.

Mackintosh did not just design the shell of the building but most of the furniture and fittings giving the building a wholistic feel.

Not only did Mackintosh break away from traditional visual design but also from architecture of the time. Each room was designed for the use it would be put to, as can be seen from the outside with the variations of window size. This is especially important for an art school with studios which need a great deal of natural light.

The Director's Room

The Glasgow School of Art is still a practising school, with very little changed from the time when Mackintosh designed it. The School have Mackintosh tours and have acquired pieces from other Mackintosh buildings. See the Visit page for details on it's location and opening times or the Links page to have a look at their web site.