The Lighthouse in

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...

's Centre for Design and Architecture. It was opened as part of Glasgow's status as UK City of Architecture and Design in 1999. The Lighthouse is the renamed conversion of the former offices of the ''

Glasgow Herald ''The Herald'' is a Scottish broadsheet newspaper founded in 1783. ''The Herald'' is the longest running national newspaper in the world and is the eighth oldest daily paper in the world. The title was simplified from ''The Glasgow Herald'' in ...

'' newspaper. Completed in 1895, it was designed by the architect

Charles Rennie Mackintosh Charles Rennie Mackintosh (7 June 1868 – 10 December 1928) was a Scottish architect, designer, water colourist and artist. His artistic approach had much in common with European Symbolism. His work, alongside that of his wife Margaret Macdo ...

. The centre's vision is to develop the links between design, architecture, and the creative industries, seeing these as interconnected social, educational, economic and cultural issues of concern to everyone.

The Lighthouse today

The Lighthouse Trust went into

administration Administration may refer to: Management of organizations * Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal ** Administrative Assistant, traditionally known as a Secretary, or also known as an administrative officer, admini ...

in August 2009. At its peak the Lighthouse Trust employed around 90 staff. Its directors moved on: Nick Barley became director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Following a substantial redundancy programme the remaining staff were transferred to Architecture and Design Scotland (A+DS) and Glasgow City Council (GCC). The Lighthouse building remains in the ownership of Glasgow City Council, which has made financial provision to meet the costs of operating the centre, re-establishing it as Scotland's National Centre for Architecture and Design. A Steering Group – made up of representatives of Glasgow City Council,

Glasgow School Of Art The Glasgow School of Art (GSA; gd, Sgoil-ealain Ghlaschu) is a higher education art school based in Glasgow, Scotland, offering undergraduate degrees, post-graduate awards (both taught and research-led), and PhDs in architecture, fine art, an ...

, Scottish Enterprise,

Creative Scotland Creative Scotland ( gd, Alba Chruthachail ; sco, Creative Scotlan) is the development body for the arts and creative industries in Scotland. Based in Edinburgh, it is an executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government. The o ...

, and various independent architects and designers – has now implemented a range of permanent and temporary uses within the building including a conference/events programme, catering facilities, temporary and permanent exhibitions, a limited amount of business space, and a design shop (TOJO) on the ground floor. Architecture and Design Scotland (A+DS) now occupy one of five floors of the building and continue to run a range of programmes on that floor. The remaining staff were awarded extended contracts of employment with GCC.

Views of Glasgow

One of the key features of the Lighthouse is the uninterrupted view over Glasgow's cityscape available from the Mackintosh Tower at the north of the building, which is accessible via a helical staircase from the third floor. There is also another modern viewing platform at the south of the building, on the sixth floor and is only accessible via lift. File:Glasgow rooftops - the East End (geograph 3629384).jpg, View from the Lighthouse File:GlasgowIn2011Rooftops.jpg, View from the Lighthouse File:View from the Lighthouse (8) - south (zoomed) (geograph 2457048).jpg, View from the Lighthouse File:"The Lighthouse" (Glasgow) (3802871083).jpg, View from the Lighthouse Lighthouse glasgow spiral staircase

City of architecture and design

In 1999, the

Clydesdale Bank Clydesdale Bank ( gd, Banca Dhail Chluaidh) is a trading name used by Clydesdale Bank plc for its retail banking operations in Scotland. In June 2018, it was announced that Clydesdale Bank's holding company CYBG would acquire Virgin Money for ...

issued a £20 note to mark Glasgow's celebrations as UK City of Architecture and Design which featured an illustration of the Lighthouse building and the dome of Thomson's

Holmwood House Holmwood House is the finest and most elaborate residential villa designed by the Scottish architect Alexander "Greek" Thomson. It is also rare in retaining much of its original interior decor, and being open to the public. A Category A listed ...

on the reverse. The obverse side carried a portrait of Glaswegian architect

Alexander "Greek" Thomson Alexander "Greek" Thomson (9 April 1817 – 22 March 1875) was an eminent Scottish architect and architectural theorist who was a pioneer in sustainable building. Although his work was published in the architectural press of his day, it was l ...

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lighthouse Category A listed buildings in Glasgow Culture in Glasgow Architecture museums in the United Kingdom Architecture in Scotland Scottish design Art museums established in 1999 Museums in Glasgow 1999 establishments in Scotland Art Nouveau architecture in Glasgow Art Nouveau commercial buildings Commercial buildings completed in 1895 Charles Rennie Mackintosh buildings

The Lighthouse today

Views of Glasgow

City of architecture and design

See also

References

External links