Interior view

Substantial on the outside and beautifully delicate on the inside, Pamela Robertson, senior curator at the Hunterian art gallery and museum in Glasgow, describes the house as ‘Mackintosh’s first essay into the room as a work of art.’ Charles Rennie Mackintosh is best known for his design of commercial buildings in Glasgow, including The Herald Building and the Glasgow School of Art. However, Windyhill is one of the most important examples of his work.

Along with the Industrial Revolution, Mackintosh was influenced by Asian style and emerging modernist ideas, making him a leading figure worldwide for the Art Nouveau movement. While working in architecture, Charles Rennie Mackintosh developed his own style: a contrast between strong right angles and floral-inspired decorative motifs, many of which can be seen at Windyhill. Mackintosh’s wife, Margaret, worked alongside him, being instrumental in many of the furniture designs and decorative elements.