Mitsubishi and Mackintosh

Helensburg, 15th August 2017 - Our ascent of Ben Nevis is not for this trip. Upon arrival, the visibility is zero and it rains heavily. Not very inviting. Therefore, we cancel one night at Monika’s B§B and decide to visit Glasgow. Sabine, who always reads the guidebook thoroughly, suggests a stop at Helensburg. There we visit Hill House, a mansion built by architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh for the Glasgow publisher Blackie in 1902. I never heard about Mackintosh, nor did I know anything about the Glasgow Four. What a revelation… At first, his style looks like Art Nouveau, but maybe we should say that Art Nouveau looks like his work, as he heavily influenced it. Mackintosh travelled to Europe but was also influenced by Japanese art. Glasgow was the industrial powerhouse of the world and very rich. We think of globalisation as something recent, but at the turn of the 20th century, Japanese walking the streets of Glasgow was not something exceptional. Companies like Mitsubishi were looking for technology and training in the North of England. Many warships for the Japanese Army were “made in UK”... Hill House is stunning, with a fantastic garden overlooking the river Clyde. I remember the hideaway for Blackie’s son, under the stairs but with a little window to the outside, so he could play and read in peace. But the best is yet to come and you will never believe it. During our visit of the house and gardens, the sun is all over Helensburg. 
Hill House, living room corner (FDC)

Hill House, Tête-à-tête (FDC)

Reacties

  1. Filip B2 oktober 2017 om 16:14

    Thx Frank I ve read this with more than common intrest

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  2. Unknown27 oktober 2017 om 02:42

    This dwelling over 100 years old is definitely worth a visit. It hasn't lost any of its charm. The interior decoration seems timeless. The architect was a visionary.

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