Situated in Bellahouston Park, only 10 minutes from Glasgow City Centre, House for an Art Lover, is a four star rated Tourist Board visitor attraction and a truly unique venue.
Designed by the famous Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, House for an Art Lover combines art gallery and exhibition space, events venue, café, multipurpose artists studios and magnificent visitor attraction into one unique and inspiring venue.
The Mackintosh Suite of rooms have been realised by contemporary artists and crafts people from the designs in the original portfolio, turning Mackintosh's vision into reality. Visitors can compare these original drawings against each completed room and also take a personal audio guide tour.
House for an Art Lover was designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 1901 but was not built until 1989 using plans he submitted as part of a competition in German art magazine ‘Zeitschrift für Innendekoration’.
The House is also home to the popular Art Lovers Café, whilst a contemporary programme of art exhibitions is hosted by the cafe throughout the year; these exhibitions can be viewed whilst you are dining, or you can pop in anytime within the cafe opening hours for a look. The Art Lovers' Shop offers a wide selection of Mackintosh-inspired products, alongside a variety of hand-crafted jewellery, home accessories and unique gifts.
In-residence, Scottish and international artists produce and showcase works in House for An Art Lover's studio and gallery spaces; with an innovative programme of workshops for adults and children also taking place here.
House for an Art Lover also actively promotes art-related activities within the grounds of Bellahouston Park. Grounds for Play is one of these schemes, a small play park close to the House which is an imaginative and challenging space for children to enjoy all forms of play.
photo: Alan McAteer
Working with Scottish artist Kenny Hunter, House for an Art Lover unveiled an 11 tonne elephant, cast in part from scrap locomotive parts on the site of the historic 1938 Empire Exhibition in Bellhouston Park. Celebrating the city's hosting of the 2014 Commonwealth Games and Glasgow's history with the commonwealth, the sculpture forms part of the Legacy 2014 project in Glasgow.