Glasgow culture: Lighthouse

Categories: glasgow

Date: 18 December 2006 16:13:42

HD was up in Glasgow this weekend and we did a bit of exploring. I've been meaning to go to the Lighthouse (aka Scotland's Centre for Architecture, Design and the City) for ages, and it was worth the wait, I'll certainly be going back there again. The building was designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and was done up in its new identity in 1999. As well as lots of stuff relating to Mackintosh there were exhibits about the Glasgow Style more generally (this is an Art Nouveau architectural style which was very popular in both exterior and interior design in the early 20th century in Glasgow, Mackintosh is probably the most famous proponent but he's by no means the only one and there are lots of really interesting buildings in this style throughout the city). There were also exhibitions from contemporary designers. The view in this first picture is the bottom of the stairs going all the way up the Mackintosh Tower, and when we got to the top, this was the view that greeted us:

You get a view all the way round the tower, fantastic views over the entire city, though sadly this was the only picture I was able to take before the battery in my camera died. The rainbow was fading by this point - there was also a faint outer rainbow which you can't see here - when we first got up there this rainbow was really bright. It was such a bummer about the battery! Oh well, I'll just have to go back, which won't be a hardship. Oh, and the shop there is brilliant. Good job I've got no money - definitely a place to be tempted!