The National Trust for Scotland has announced plans to save a water-logged house designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh by creating a "giant cage" that will protect the building from the elements.
The structure, which has been designed by architects Carmody Groarke, is see-through and will enable the trust to keep the Hill House in Helensburgh open to the public during its restoration.
The £4m project is expected to remain in place for several years, giving conservation teams time to find long-term solutions that will secure the building’s structural integrity.
Hill House was built for the publisher Walter Blackie between 1902 and 1904, and is constructed from Portland concrete, which Mackintosh used to create a plain finish to the exterior. However the material, which was experimental at the time, has allowed rain water to soak into the fabric of the building and threaten the bespoke interior finishes and designs that Mackintosh and his wife, Margaret MacDonald, created for Blackie.
“As our President, Neil Oliver, put it, Hill House is in danger of ‘dissolving like an aspirin in a glass of water’,” said Simon Skinner, the National Trust for Scotland’s chief executive. “We are building what amounts to a shield around and above the Hill House to keep wind and rain out and give the building a chance to dry.
“The structure is effectively a porous cage, albeit a beautifully designed one, that still allows some movement of air and a degree of moisture penetration – this is essential to ensure the walls do not dry out too quickly and crumble as a result.
“While the Hill House is being protected from the elements, our conservation and architectural heritage teams can start work to find solutions that will respect the historic and design integrity of the building, meet the standards and obligations required by its listed status and ensure that this precious place will survive to inspire future generations.”
The structure includes stairs and walkways, which will allow visitors to explore the exterior of the building, and its surrounding area, in a new way.
Andy Groarke, of architects Carmody Groarke, said: “The National Trust of Scotland is adopting a bold approach to the conservation of the Hill House; one that is radical and experimental in seeking new methods to extend the lifespan of our heritage, and one that invites public interaction and interpretation of these processes.”
In 2015, the Getty Conservation Institute awarded Hill House £95,000 for its conservation, and the National Trust of Scotland will launch a fundraising campaign in early 2018 to raise the remaining money needed to complete the project.
The structure, which has been designed by architects Carmody Groarke, is see-through and will enable the trust to keep the Hill House in Helensburgh open to the public during its restoration.
The £4m project is expected to remain in place for several years, giving conservation teams time to find long-term solutions that will secure the building’s structural integrity.
Hill House was built for the publisher Walter Blackie between 1902 and 1904, and is constructed from Portland concrete, which Mackintosh used to create a plain finish to the exterior. However the material, which was experimental at the time, has allowed rain water to soak into the fabric of the building and threaten the bespoke interior finishes and designs that Mackintosh and his wife, Margaret MacDonald, created for Blackie.
“As our President, Neil Oliver, put it, Hill House is in danger of ‘dissolving like an aspirin in a glass of water’,” said Simon Skinner, the National Trust for Scotland’s chief executive. “We are building what amounts to a shield around and above the Hill House to keep wind and rain out and give the building a chance to dry.
“The structure is effectively a porous cage, albeit a beautifully designed one, that still allows some movement of air and a degree of moisture penetration – this is essential to ensure the walls do not dry out too quickly and crumble as a result.
“While the Hill House is being protected from the elements, our conservation and architectural heritage teams can start work to find solutions that will respect the historic and design integrity of the building, meet the standards and obligations required by its listed status and ensure that this precious place will survive to inspire future generations.”
The structure includes stairs and walkways, which will allow visitors to explore the exterior of the building, and its surrounding area, in a new way.
Andy Groarke, of architects Carmody Groarke, said: “The National Trust of Scotland is adopting a bold approach to the conservation of the Hill House; one that is radical and experimental in seeking new methods to extend the lifespan of our heritage, and one that invites public interaction and interpretation of these processes.”
In 2015, the Getty Conservation Institute awarded Hill House £95,000 for its conservation, and the National Trust of Scotland will launch a fundraising campaign in early 2018 to raise the remaining money needed to complete the project.
