Glasgow School of Art at time of restoration and after the fire


Bottom left: Art school library before and after the fire


HILL HOUSE HELENSBURGH The Hill House in Helensburgh (1904), was commissioned by the publisher Walter Blackie who wanted Mackintosh to design a substantial family home. The Hill House was notable for its simple and solid asymmetrical forms with little ornamentation, yet internally the rooms exuded light and space, and the use of colour and decoration was carefully conceived. Mackintosh designed most of the interior, furniture and fittings and his attention to detail extended to prescribing the colour of cut flowers that the Blackies might place on a table in the living room. But the experimental building material used in the finish has allowed water to soak into the building. Mackintosh selected portland cement harl, for the surface finish but this was found to be less durable than traditional lime harl and by 2017 it was discovered to be in a precarious condition, putting the integrity of the whole building at risk.


In 1982 the house was donated to the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) which maintains it and opens it to visitors. Now, NTS proposes to surround the house with a protective ‘shield’ in the form of a ‘giant cage’ while it comes up with ways to restore it. The trust plans to build the huge see-through structure over the top of the landmark to protect the building from the elements and let the building dry out. This will give skilled conservation teams the time needed to find long- term solutions that will secure the building’s structural integrity. Donations worth £1m have been received after an appeal to save the Hill House in Helensburgh. NTS appealed in February for £1.5m in donations towards the £4.5m total cost of a major renovation project. Work was scheduled to begin on 5 July, with the giant mesh box being constructed around the house. It is expected to remain in place for at least five years, protecting the property from the worst of the weather.


Hill House exterior


Hill House under wraps


Continued >> Listed Heritage Magazine September/October 2018 47


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