Iconic Encounters: Glasgow's Charles Rennie Mackintosh

A three-day architectural immersion into the world of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Margaret Macdonald

In January, the National Trust for Scotland hosted an exclusive three-day guided programme in Glasgow celebrating one of the city’s most influential creative figures: architect, designer, and artist Charles Rennie Mackintosh, alongside his wife and close collaborator, artist Margaret Macdonald. Designed for museum practitioners affiliated with the Iconic Houses Network, the experience offered rare access to landmark buildings, private homes, and major conservation projects.

Active across Scotland, England, and Europe at the turn of the 20th century, Mackintosh developed one of the most distinctive voices within the Art Nouveau movement. His architecture, interiors, furniture, and decorative art formed richly atmospheric environments shaped by a deep sensitivity to light, space, and the individuality of his clients. Throughout the programme, the essential role of Margaret Macdonald—one of the celebrated “Glasgow Girls”—was foregrounded, highlighting her artistic influence and collaborative partnership.

Limited to just twelve participants, due to the private and intimate nature of both Windy Hill and High Sunderland, the event balanced scholarly insight with exclusive access, bringing together curator-led tours, expert lectures, and rare behind-the-scenes visits.

Highlights of the Three-Day Programme

Exclusive Visit of Windy Hill
The programme opened with rare access to Windy Hill, a privately owned Mackintosh-designed house not normally open to the public. Participants were welcomed by the current owner, who saved and meticulously restored the property. The guided visit concluded with a convivial reception, setting the tone for the days ahead.

The Hill House Conservation in Progress - Seeing Mackintosh from a New Perspective
On Monday, the group travelled to Helensburgh to explore The Hill House, Mackintosh’s iconic domestic masterpiece. Currently undergoing preparation for a major, multi-million-pound conservation programme to address severe damp issues—famously described as causing the building to “dissolve like an aspirin”—the visit offered a unique perspective on preservation in action. Project Director Liz Davidson led a guided tour of the house, followed by a walk across the dramatic steel “box” that now encloses it. Scheduled for removal in 2028, this temporary structure enables ongoing research and conservation while allowing visitors to experience the building in an entirely new way.

House for an Art Lover
After lunch, participants visited the House for an Art Lover, a faithful realisation of a project first conceived by Charles and Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh in 1901. Completed in 1999, the house embodies the couple’s defining characteristics: refined ornament, bespoke furniture, elegant motifs, and a masterful handling of light and space. Despite being completed long after Mackintosh’s death, the collaboration with expert craftspeople resulted in a remarkably authentic experience. Highlights included the Great Hall—where the staircase doubles as a performance stage—the recurring rose and Tree of Life motif. Fun fact: the rounded arch above the fireplace, deliberately preventing it from being cluttered with decorative bric-a-brac.

Curator-Led Tour of The Mackintosh House
Back in Glasgow, the group visited The Mackintosh House, a meticulous reconstruction of Charles and Margaret’s former home, recreated by architect William Whitfield within the Hunterian Art Gallery at the University of Glasgow. The visit was followed by a specialist lecture by curator Joseph Sharples, focusing on Margaret Macdonald’s artistic contributions and her vital role in Mackintosh’s work. A system of ramps to reach its front door was never built, which makes it a little odd now and reminds us of the installation “House” by artist and sculptor Rachel Whiteread.

Morning Tea at Mackintosh at the Willow
Tuesday began with morning tea and breakfast in the former Billiard Room at Mackintosh at the Willow, the beautifully restored tea rooms originally commissioned by Miss Cranston. Jean Sinclair, CEO of The Willow Tea Rooms Trust—the charity that restored and operated the Mackintosh at the Willow tearooms before their transfer to the National Trust for Scotland—gave an insightful talk on how this remarkable restoration project was spearheaded by a dedicated team of volunteers. A guided tour followed and revealed Mackintosh’s mastery of interior atmosphere and spatial storytelling.
Saved and restored under the leadership of Celia Sinclair and the Willow Tea Rooms Trust, the project relied on just six historic photographs. Every detail was carefully researched and recreated as part of the Mackintosh Illuminated initiative, with exhibition design by Studio ARC ensuring an engaging and immersive visitor experience.

Exclusive Access to High Sunderland and the Bernat Klein Studio
The final day concluded with a rare, once-in-a-lifetime visit to privately owned modernist masterpiece High Sunderland House (1956), designed by Peter Womersley for the Scottish textile designer Bernat Klein. This was followed by a visit to the recently saved Bernat Klein Studio (1972), also designed by Womersley (1972). Project Manager Jess Burrows from the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust was there to give us a thorough tour and to share insights on the restoration plans, offering a compelling counterpoint to Mackintosh’s earlier legacy. The first year will be dedicated to stabilizing the studio and carrying out detailed research. Over the following five years, the space will undergo careful restoration. After that, the National Trust for Scotland, in collaboration with the Bernat Klein Foundation, will transform it into a fully functioning, working weaving studio—bringing the building and its heritage back to life. The project can be followed here: bernatkleinstudio.org.uk.

The programme concluded with a return to Glasgow for onward journeys. Once home, we no longer had to face the dinner dilemma of choosing between all the different types of haggis —Haggis Wellington, Haggis sausage roll, Haggis mac & cheese or Haggis Pakora.

Our heartfelt thanks go to Liz Davidson and Louise Baker of the National Trust for Scotland for creating and sharing such a thoughtful and generous experience. We can’t wait to return to The Hill House and Klein Studio once their restorations are complete!

Posted February 6, 2026