The Lighthouse in Glasgow

Glasgow

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...

, is Scotland

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

's Centre for Architecture, Design and the City. 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 newspaper. Completed in 1895, it was designed by the architect John Keppie, of whom Charles Rennie Mackintosh

Charles Rennie Mackintosh

Charles Rennie Mackintosh was a Scottish architect, designer, watercolourist and artist. He was a designer in the Arts and Crafts movement and also the main representative of Art Nouveau in the United Kingdom. He had a considerable influence on European design...

 was an apprentice. It is often mistakenly attributed to Mackintosh. 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 in August 2009. At its peak the Lighthouse Trust had around 90 staff. Its Directors moved on: Nick Barley (now 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, who has made financial provison to meet the costs of operating the Centre, and 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, Scottish Enterprise, Creative Scotland, and various independent architects and designers - is now preparing proposals for 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 possible architectural bookshop. 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 have recently been awarded extended contracts of employment with GCC.

In November 2010 an award was made against the Lighthouse Trust (In Administration) by an Employment Tribunal for its Discrimination and Unfair dismissal of a former Disabled Gay member of staff. Gay Rights groups have expressed concern and asked members of the public to be aware of the Lighthouse' history as regards Gay and Disablility rights.

Views of Glasgow

Free access to one of the stunning features of The Lighthouse is the uninterrupted view over Glasgow's cityscape 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, which forms the buildings sixth floor and is only accessible via lift.

City of architecture and design

In 1999, the Clydesdale Bank

Clydesdale Bank

Clydesdale Bank is a commercial bank in Scotland, a subsidiary of the National Australia Bank Group. In Scotland, Clydesdale Bank is the third largest clearing bank, although it also retains a branch network in London and the north of England...

 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

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

 on the reverse. The obverse side carried a portrait of Glaswegian architect Alexander "Greek" Thomson

Alexander Thomson

Alexander "Greek" Thomson 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 little appreciated outwith Glasgow during his lifetime...

.

External links

• The Lighthouse - Illustrated Guide