Glasgow's Mackintosh building: A radical and thrilling icon of design genius

Appreciation

The Glasgow School of Art – designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh (Getty Images)

In an age of bogus, 21st century architectural “icons”, Glasgow School of Art – designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh – is a true work of genius.

Astonishingly, Rennie Mackintosh began designing this brilliantly radical, supremely graceful building in his late 20s. The Mac’s catalogue of refined architectural beauty, fusing Art Nouveau, Japanese and proto-Modernist styles is absolutely engrossing: the coloured scallops on the stair balusters; the floral motifs; the mixtures of curves and right angles; the exquisitely modelled window bays; the play of light and shadow.

Architects, artists and designers the world over will be hoping that the building’s genius survives.