Glasgow School of Art

 We had a vague plan to visit Glasgow if possible on this trip. We decided to pitch at the private camp site, Lomond Woods at Balloch having been told it was near the railway station on a direct line to central Glasgow. The site was only about 10 minutes walk to the station. On Wednesday 27 June we arrived in continuous moderate rain at this camp site. The next morning was arguably 'not raining' and we caught the  8.53 a.m. to Charing Cross station because it is the nearest to GSA. However we bought returns to Queens Street low level so we had a choice of stations from which to return to Balloch.

 When we had re-orientated ourselves on arrival and started walking in the right direction we soon reached Sauchiehall Street. Here is the tacky deco Beresford hotel with a caf for the GSA students.

We easily found Scott St., Dalhousie St. and Renfrew St. which bound the GSA. This was Charles Rennie Macintosh's first commission. There are guided tours round the building, or 'space'. Photography is not allowed in the building so go to these images. It's well worth a visit. The level of detailed ornamentation by Macintosh is stunning. The grand project of the building is quietly brilliant. The northern light fenestration is both utilitarian and beautiful. The library is a delight of calm scholarly learning. GSA is a museum of a certain tradition in modern architecture of international impact, and a really functioning art school. However art moves on and more space is needed for today's teaching and learning needs. So the surrounding streets are a building site. It will be interesting to see the results in a few years.