Visitors at the Hill House in Helensburgh are being asked to don fancy dress to mark two anniversaries next weekend.
The National Trust for Scotland wants to celebrate Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s 153rd birthday and the second anniversary of the opening of the chainmail ‘box’.
Visitor services supervisor Taylah Egbers said: “On June 7, we have a lot to celebrate at the Hill House – not only is it two years since we officially opened our protective box, we also mark Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s 153rd birthday.
“To mark this special date, we are asking all our visitors, to join us in celebration by wearing their most Macktastic outfit to the site.
“From June 5 to 7, we want to see fabulous mask moustaches, glamorous hats, artistic inspired clothing, the works!
“Mackintosh style is world famous, so we can’t wait to see the creative outfits our visitors put together for this special occasion at a place that so many people love.”
Visitors who come dressed up will receive a 10% discount in the property’s shop.
The Hill House is open daily – advance booking is essential: https://nts.cloudvenue.co.uk/advancebookingthehillhouse. Advance booking is not needed for the café or garden.
The Hill House is considered to be the finest example of domestic architecture by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
However, Mackintosh’s experimental design, combined with his trial of new materials, has meant that the house has been soaking up water like a sponge for over 115 years.
Battered by around 190 days of rain each year, the long-term survival of the building is in doubt and there’s a real danger of its priceless, Mackintosh-designed interior being lost forever.
Designed by award-winning architects Carmody Groarke, the Hill House Box is a vast semi-transparent shelter around the main house, consisting of 165 tonnes of steel frame swathed in chainmail made up of 32.4 million rings, themselves weighing 8.3 tonnes.
It acts as a giant shield covering the entire building. It will protect it from the rain while allowing the house to dry out and letting conservators begin their work rescuing this iconic home.
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