British Interiors - Architects - Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868 - 1928)
Early Years
Charles Rennie Mackintosh was born in Glasgow in 1868 and started his architecture career at 15 years old after he was apprenticed to an architect, called John Hutchinson. Mackintosh worked for Hutchinson between 1884 and 1889. He also attended classes at the Glasgow School of Art where he met Margaret MacDonald (later became his wife), Frances MacDonald and Herbert McNair. The group became known as "The Four" and they staged exhibitions together, which helped to raise Mackintosh's profile.
In 1889 he became a draughtsman for a new firm of architects; Honeyman and Keppie and became a partner there in 1901. It was during his time at Honeyman and Keppie that Mackintosh designed the new Glasgow School of Art, a commission that he won as part of a competition, which was to be the project that made his reputation.
Mackintosh has a very distinctive architectural and interior style. There is a definite modernity to his style but also a strong Scottish tradition combined with Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts influences. The Mackintosh style combines sharp right angles with subtle curves and his work is peppered with decorative floral motifs, the most famous being the Mackintosh Rose.
The majority of his work centred on Glasgow and coincided with the economic boom at the turn of the century when Glasgow was transformed into a major industrial city. The increased wealth of the city provided Mackintosh with many varied commissions and his work can be easily divided into 3 key areas of interest: public buildings, private buildings and tea rooms.
Public Buildings
Glasgow School of Art (1899-1909)
The Glasgow School of Art assignment was the first and most important of Mackintosh's architectural commissions and was won through a competition. The building is based on an E shape with one side facing down a steep slope whilst the other fronts onto a major road.
The school is constructed from wrought iron and brickwork and Mackintosh paid particular attention to creating a lofty and light interior. This is clearly demonstrated by the north front which has huge studio windows, which are held in place with wrought iron brackets, to bathe the school in light.
The library is the most striking designed interior in the school. The 3 storey windows, built during the second phase, drown the library in light and contrasts with the dark wood and the green, white and red interior. The library design combines traditional academic styling with modern, geometric patterns.
Martyrs' Public School (1895-1897)
The Martyrs' Public School project is thought to be one of Mackintosh's first architectural projects and was commissioned by the Glasgow School Board to Honeyman & Keppie just after Mackintosh had completed his apprenticeship. The school is situated on Parson Street in Glasgow, the same street that Mackintosh was born, and was built with a budget of £9, 000 for 900-1000 of the children of Townhead.
The school is built from red sandstone, like a large number of Mackintosh's public buildings, and is set over 3 floors. The 3 floors are based around a central atrium with the glass roof providing light. The balconies are protected by ornate, wrought iron rails and the doors and windows are framed by glazed green tiles.
Scotland Street School (1903-1906)
Scotland Street School was one of Mackintosh's last commissions in Glasgow. The school was designed in 1903 and built between 1904 and 1906. Built from red sandstone, with large glass windows held in place with wrought iron the school is clearly in a style that is instantly recognisable as Mackintosh. Decorative floral motifs and cut glass are an integral part of the exterior brickwork.
Practicality is at the heart of the design and the huge towers, which house the staircases, have three separate doors and staircases to divide boys, girls and infants. The labels are incorporated into the stonework and door surrounds, demonstrating how functionality was an integral part of Mackintosh's designs.
The interior is characterised by coloured, glazed tiling that is typical of Art Nouveau design and the same combination of sharp angles with soft curves that are characteristic of Mackintosh interiors.
Private Homes
Hill House, Helensburgh, Scotland (1903)
Hill House is regarded as one of Mackintosh's finest buildings and is surrounded by beautiful gardens which he also landscaped. Designed in 1903, for Walter Blackie, the house is narrow, built for local sandstone and stretches from east to west. To make full use of the view of the Clyde, Mackintosh designed the house so that the majority of the rooms are facing southward over the estuary.
Mackintosh designed the interior, including fireplaces, furnishings and even the built in wardrobes. Unlike traditional Victorian interiors, the décor of Hill House is natural and uses simple clean lines, with echoes of classical styling. Mackintosh's aim was to create a complete environment, practical, functional and stylish. The rooms were designed to flow through from one to another but Mackintosh always designed to the needs of the Blackie family, including the addition of a nursery.
Tea Rooms
The Willow (Mrs Cranston's) Tea Rooms, Glasgow (1902-04)
The Willow Tea Rooms are found on Sauchiehall Street, A Scottish term for willow hence the name, in Glasgow. The building is separated into 4 storeys, with contrasting window sizes between the bottom 2 public floors and the 2 upper private floors. The first two floors are characterised by single large windows spanning the façade, whereas the upper floors have 3 windows.
The Room de Luxe is the most famous of Mackintosh's tea room interiors and is central feature of the Willow Tea Rooms on the first floor overlooking the street. It combines the silver, white and purple colour scheme and leaded glass that is synonymous with Mackintosh design.