Charles Rennie Mackintosh Buildings

As a 19th Century Art Nouveau Architect and Designer, and probably the famous son of Glasgow, he was responsible for many acclaimed designs in the city including:

Glasgow Herald Building

This was the first major public building he did and was more recently converted to become “The Lighthouse”, Scotland's Centre for Architecture and Design.

Daily Record Building

Although harder to appreciate due to its location on a narrow lane, the building is unique due to its use of white bricks.

Glasgow School of Art

Mackintosh won a competition to design this and was perhaps best known for it and it’s art nouveau design.

Willow Tearooms

This white building is stunning and timeless where Mackintosh’s all encompassing design extended down to the furniture of the tearooms. It is still possible today to have tea in the tea gallery.

Scotland Street School

This is no longer a school and has become a museum of education since 1990. The original design of this building is considered a key architectural highlight of Glasgow.

House for an Art Lover

Interestingly, the original design was for this building was for a competition that he was disqualified for due to late submission. Designed in conjunction with his wife, Margaret Macdonald, the building was brought to life in Bellahouston Park in the 1990’s, long after their deaths.

Queens Cross Church

The only church of Mackintosh design to be built, this is now home to the Charles Mackintosh Society and was recently refurbished and is also currently used as it was originally intended, as a house of worship.

Other Architectural Buildings

Glasgow Cathedral at Cathedral Square

This is the only surviving medieval church in Scotland. Built between the 13th and 15th centuries it is an excellent example of gothic architecture. It is still an active house of worship as well as a popular tourist destination.

Royal Exchange

Originally designed to be used as a business exchange, it is now currently the home to the museum of modern art. This building is the centrepiece of the Royal

Exchange Square and impresses with its rows of glorious columns and a statue of the Duke of Wellington on horseback positioned in front of it. Often the Duke finds himself with a traffic cone as a hat, a tradition carried out by late night revellers for the past couple of decades.

Glasgow City Chambers

This imposing building dominates George Square is an excellent example of Victorian architecture dating from 1888. The frontage is elaborate and with an interior to match incorporating a banqueting hall a marble staircase and Venetian mosaic. Designed at the height of the British Empire, the building was meant to impress.

Caledonia Road Church at the Gorbals

Despite being destroyed in a fire in the 60’s, the frontage of this Church still survives. Inspired by Italian and ancient Greek styles and designed by Alexander Thomson, a famous Victorian architect, the unusual combination results in an interesting building.

Glasgow's River Clyde Bridges

Several bridges dating back to the 1850’s tell their own unique history of Glasgow. Bridge designs ranging from arch to suspension are present as well as uses from pedestrian to railway and construction materials from timber to steel. The most recent construction is that of the Millennium Bridge, a steel footbridge completed in 2002.

The Doulton Fountain

Now located in front of The People’s Palace, this is the largest terracotta fountain in the world with 5 tiers and 46 feet high. It was a gift to the city from Sir Henry Doulton, famed for Royal Doulton tableware.

Clyde Auditorium

Probably the most famous modern landmark of Glasgow this public event venue was completed in 1997. It is known more commonly as “The Armadillo” due to its similarity in looks and has also been compared to the Sydney Opera house.

Radisson SAS Hotel

Perhaps unusually for a hotel, the futuristic glass and steel style of this building has earned it several architecture awards since it was completed in 2002.