Charles Rennie Macintosh and the Glasgow School of Art

Library at the Glasgow School of Art

The Glasgow School of Art building is something else indeed.  Designed by Charles Rennie Macintosh back in the late 1800’s and finished on the early 1900’s, it’s still being used as a functioning art school.  Macintosh was all about Art Deco and holistic approaches to buildings. So, he had his fingers into all the pieces of the pie.  No doubt to the chagrin of owners and contractors alike.

Art Deco has never been my thing, but the top floor rear is much like a sunroom.  It was called then, as it is now, the Hen Run.  This was the area that female students were delegated to when the school decided to go co-op.  Quite the advancement in those days and not one followed by all schools or artists either, for that matter.

CRM Chair

The school has a fair sampling of his furniture – it seems to have become the depository for defunct tearooms or homes.  It doesn’t look particularly comfortable, though many of the pieces are extremely functional.  There’s certainly no lollygagging about or relaxing in most of his chairs.  This is a bit surprising, as he designed a number tea rooms in Glasgow, many of which featured his furnishings.