The Hill House
The Hill House is considered to be Charles Rennie Mackintosh's domestic masterpiece. Commissioned by Glasgow book publisher Walter Blackie, up-and-coming architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868-1928) and his wife Margaret Mackintosh Macdonald (1864-1933), a well-established artist and interior designer, worked collaboratively to create almost everything you see at the property, from the building itself to the furniture and textiles. The external render of the property has not proved watertight. The Hill House has embarked on a 10-year conservation programme, allowing continued public access to the house. Stage one opened to visitors in 2019, with a protective steel frame structure covered in chainmail mesh, featuring walkways around and over the top of the house.
Highlights
The house features Mackintosh and MacDonalds best domestic interior designs fusing art nouveau, japonism and hints of art deco in stencilling, stained glass, ceramics, carpentry and textiles set against the contrasting, darkly atmospheric and brilliantly lit interiors that were the hallmark of their designs. Externally the largest temporary steel shelter and gangway in Europe allows visitors the opportunity to walk around and over the House to appreciate the sculptural qualities and architecture of the House which draws on Mackintosh's strong belief to develop a new modern vernacular architecture with its roots in Scottish tradition but embracing new technology and materials.