Description

An early 19th century house that was substantially extended around 1895-1910 in a Modern movement style (incorporating a tower house of 1706). Original south front: two-storeys, three windows, rubble walls, crowstepped gables, three dormers with stepped pediments. Major additions of around 1907 to north and east: asymmetrical grouping with turrets and studio windows, crowstepped gables, conical slate roofs, tall rectangular turret at northeast corner with parapet, massive timber studio window, other windows sashes and stone mullions and transoms. Entrance in angle facing lower outbuildings to east in similar style. Panelled interiors and stair; original fittings.

Statement of Interest

The original early 19th century house is thought to have been largely extended and remodelled by R M Stevenson, a prominent member of the Glasgow School of painters, as a home and studio for himself. Terraces to north of house look over Bardowie Loch to Bardowie Castle. The original listed building record (1997) noted that the design of the extension was a collaboration between Charles Rennie Mackintosh and R M Stevenson, including the main staircase. This was reputedly said by Stevenson's daughter in the 1980s, however there is no documentary evidence to support this and the building does not resemble any of Mackintosh's known works. Mackintosh did however produce a rough plan of the studio and made notes for internal redecoration around 1910. (Mackintosh Architecture)

Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868-1928) was born in Glasgow and is regarded internationally as one of the leading architects and designers of the 20th century. He became known as a pioneer of Modernism, although his architecture took much inspiration from Scottish Baronial, and Scottish and English vernacular forms and their reinterpretation. The synthesis of modern and traditional forms led to a distinctive form of Scottish arts and crafts design, known as 'The Glasgow Style'. This was developed in collaboration with contemporaries Herbert McNair, and the sisters Francis and Margaret Macdonald (who would become his wife in 1900), who were known as 'The Four'. The Glasgow Style is now synonymous with Mackintosh and the City of Glasgow.

Mackintosh's work is wide-ranging and includes public, educational and religious buildings to private houses, interior decorative schemes and sculptures. He is associated with over 150 design projects, ranging from being the principal designer, to projects he was involved with as part of the firm of John Honeyman & Keppie (Honeyman, Keppie & Mackintosh from 1901). The most important work during this partnership was the Glasgow School of Art (LB33105), which was built in two phases from 1897 and culminated in the outstanding library of 1907.

Other key works include the Willow Tea Rooms (LB33173), the Glasgow Herald Building (now The Lighthouse) (LB33087) and Hill House (LB34761), which display the modern principles of the German concept of 'Gesamtkunstwerk', meaning the 'synthesis of the arts'. This is something that Mackintosh applied completely to all of his work, from the exterior to the internal decorative scheme and the furniture and fittings.

Mackintosh left Glasgow in 1914, setting up practice in London the following year. Later he and Margaret moved to France, where until his death, his artistic output largely turned to textile design and watercolours.

Listed building record revised in 2019.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17793458

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects by Harwood, Richard (2012) Paperback
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas