House for an Art Lover facts for kids

Quick facts for kids House for an Art Lover
General information
Type	House
Architectural style	Art Nouveau
Location	Glasgow, Scotland
Construction started	1989
Completed	1996
Design and construction
Architect	Charles Rennie Mackintosh

The House for an Art Lover is a cool arts and culture spot in Glasgow, Scotland. It was built between 1989 and 1996. The design came from a 1901 plan by famous architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife, Margaret MacDonald. Their style was called Art Nouveau.

You can find this house in Glasgow's Bellahouston Park. It's near where the Festival Tower of the 1938 Empire Exhibition, Scotland used to be. The idea to build it came from Graham Roxburgh. He was a civil engineer in Glasgow. The house is a great example of the Modern Style. Today, it hosts art shows and other events. It's also a popular place for visitors to explore.

Discovering the House's Story

The House for an Art Lover was first designed for a special competition. A German design magazine called Zeitschrift für Innendekoration held it. The competition asked for a design for an "Art Lover's House."

Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Margaret MacDonald sent in their ideas. Even though their entry was late and not fully finished, it won a prize! The judges loved its "personal quality" and "novel form." They also liked how the inside and outside matched perfectly.

Building the Dream House

Construction of the house began in 1989. It finally opened to the public in 1996. Building had to stop for a while in the early 1990s. This was because of a tough economic time.

In 1994, the Glasgow City Council and the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) helped restart the project. This allowed the inside rooms and outdoor areas to be finished. Artists like John Kane and Graeme Robertson helped bring Mackintosh's original ideas to life. Many other artists also contributed. You can see Mackintosh's original drawings in each room. This lets you compare them to the finished house.

What the House Does Today

The House for an Art Lover is run by a special charity. This charity wants to get people excited about art, design, and architecture. They put on art shows by Scottish artists. They also have fun learning programs for kids and adults.

The house also has shops and a cafe. It's a popular place for meetings and other events.

Exploring the Unique Design

Mackintosh believed his buildings should be seen as a complete artwork. The House for an Art Lover mixes many different styles. It combines old Victorian designs with new, modern ideas. You can see a blend of strong and soft shapes. It mixes natural forms with abstract thoughts. Simple ideas are combined with complex designs.

Mackintosh felt that architects should have more freedom. This house shows his ability to create a truly unique design.

A Modern Interpretation

The House for an Art Lover shows Mackintosh's style. However, it's important to remember it was built based on his 1901 drafts. Architects often change their designs as they build. For example, when Mackintosh worked on the GSA, he changed his plans over time. The later parts of the building looked different from the earlier ones.

So, it's possible Mackintosh would have changed his plans for this house too. Because of this, buildings built after an architect's death can be debated. Some people feel there isn't enough information to truly build what the architect intended.

House for Today's World

The current House for an Art Lover is an interpretation of the Mackintoshes' original ideas. They designed a home for someone to live in. But the house today was built for public use.

It was built to show off the Bellahouston Art Park. Now, it hosts parties, meetings, and art shows. It has a cafe and gift shop. Mackintosh wouldn't have designed it with these things in mind. So, the look would have been different. The house is still special because it uses his original designs. But many in the art world want people to know it's not an original Mackintosh building.

Images for kids

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  Competition entry drawing of the house from the north west.

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  The interior design of House for an Art Lover exemplifies Macintosh's flowing, floral style of design.

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  House for an Art Lover is situated in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow.

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  An exterior view overlooking the 'Grounds for Play'.

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  A portico surviving from the old Ibroxhill House which stood on this site. The 'Art Lover' house and the 'Giant Foot' artwork are in the background.

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  A living willow seat on the lawn outside the house.

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  Music room

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  Main hall