Travels in Glasgow, Scotland

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

The zpd+a team travelled far and wide this year, lots of steps and plenty of flight miles were earned! A late summer trip took us to Scotland. At 850 years young, Glasgow is a city packed full of layered history and character. For the architecture and interior design-minded, it is the beating heart of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, alongside his wife Margaret Macdonald, her sister Frances, and Herbert MacNair—collectively known as “The Four”. All of whom played a pivotal role in shaping the Glasgow Style and influencing the broader European Secessionist movement. Emerging in the late 19th century, their work merged Celtic symbolism, Japanese aesthetics, and the curvilinear forms of Art Nouveau with a distinctly modern sensibility. Their innovative approach to design and architecture not only defined a new artistic identity for Glasgow but also resonated with contemporaries, particularly the artists of the Vienna Secession, who admired their integration of fine and applied arts.

Interiors from The Mackintosh House at The Hunterian & House for an Art Lover

A prime example of Mackintosh’s architectural vision is the House for an Art Lover, a project originally conceived in 1901 but only realized decades later in Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park. Though built posthumously, the house remains faithful to Mackintosh's original designs and serves as a testament to his fusion of architecture, interior design, and artistic philosophy. Every detail—from the flowing lines of the furniture to the interplay of light and space—reflects The Four’s commitment to Gesamtkunstwerk, or “total work of art,” a concept central to the Secessionist ideals. The house stands today as both a cultural venue and a living embodiment of Mackintosh’s design legacy.

Another lasting tribute to Mackintosh and his wife’s artistic partnership is the reconstructed Mackintosh House at the Hunterian Art Gallery in Glasgow. Based on the couple’s former home at 78 South Park Avenue, the residence showcases their pioneering interior designs and the harmony between architecture and decoration. Featuring original furniture, textiles, and decorative schemes designed by Mackintosh and Macdonald, the house offers a deeply personal insight into their creative world. As part of the Hunterian, it continues to inspire admiration for their role in advancing modern design and their influence on international movements such as the Vienna Secession, bridging Glasgow’s unique artistic heritage with the broader European avant-garde. Getting to spend time in these living spaces truly gave us pause to consider level of detail, ingenuity and consideration applied to Mackintoshes’ radical new perspective that deeply challenged the norms of their day.

 L to R: Merchant City Gates, The Gallery of Modern Art, The Hunterian Museum at The University of Glasgow

Tourism benefits in Glasgow are manifold- It has walkability throughout its city streets, free museums, grand public parks, public transportation as well as two winding rivers, The Kelvin and The Clyde to stroll along. The historical marries well with the modern features of a metropolitan city, there is a distinct sense of civic preservation and pride. Perfect for families, solo and business travel, we recommend a wander around the lovely West End for some legendary fish and chips, a Saturday at the Barras Flea Market or getting some steps in on Alexander Thompson's 19th century The Sixty Steps built in 1870. And for those who are weary of the walking, Glaswegian taxi drivers are always quick to whisk you off your feet to offer a helping hand, a story and a smile.