Samples take saving the Hill House to the next stage
Earlier this month (May), conservation experts took samples from the interior of the building to further build the picture of the extent of damage that has been happening steadily over a century of water penetration — and how much this has been reversed by the protection of the Box.
Samples taken from the outside of the house in late 2023 have already shown that the structure is drying out as planned.
Since its construction in 1904, the Hill House has been severely impacted by the relentless rain of Scotland’s west coast. Over a century, the continuous dampness has not only eroded the structure of the house (dissolving the brick) but also corroded the unique bespoke interior decoration, a masterpiece by Mackintosh and his wife Margaret MacDonald.
In 2019, the Trust installed a pioneering protective steel mesh box structure over the house, which acted as a barrier to the elements and enabled the house to gradually dry out as the first stage in a long-term conservation programme.
Now, a series of samples are being taken from key internal points in the house that have been badly affected by water ingress — the living room, dining room, drawing room, guest bedroom, wine room and larder. These will provide conservators with more information about how the building has been affected by water and if there was any inherent defect in either the materials used originally or the manner in which they were used in the construction. This will help inform future decisions about the conservation works needed to repair and restore the building, which is now one of the few remaining Mackintosh creations that is open to the public.
As part of our proactive approach to the building’s restoration and ongoing maintenance, we will reopen all the chimneys and fireplaces. This measure encourages airflow around the building, a crucial step in the continued drying process and the preservation of the structure.
Project Director Elizabeth Davidson said: ‘We are at a really exciting stage in our work at the Hill House. The Box has been doing its dual job of preventing further water from impacting on the building, and also allowing the structure, which in some places was very wet indeed, to dry out gradually.
‘We’ve been closely monitoring this process and this sampling helps us gain more insight into how the building is responding to the drying process. Relative humidity in the house is now down to acceptable conservation standards — a remarkable achievement given the very visible areas of rain penetration previously through microcracking in the structure.’
Once the analysis is complete, the next major milestone in the Hill House project will be the complete removal of the render. This is planned for late 2024.
Many generous funders have supported The Hill House project, including the Getty Foundation’s Keeping It Modern initiative, the National Trust for Scotland USA Foundation, and donors to the Box the Hill House appeal. Their contributions have made a tangible difference in our conservation efforts.
From January 2024, the Trust now proudly safeguards two architectural gems by Charles Rennie Mackintosh — the Hill House and Mackintosh at the Willow. Mackintosh (1868–1928) was a luminary in Scottish architecture, design and art and left an indelible mark on the Arts and Crafts movement. Renowned for his avant-garde approach, he seamlessly melded traditional Scottish elements with influences from Japanese design and the art nouveau style. His architectural masterpieces epitomise his dedication to functional yet aesthetically pleasing structures.
Through its 10-year strategy, Nature, Beauty & Heritage for Everyone, the Trust is working on a range of projects across Scotland to stabilise and improve the condition of its estate. It has recently completed major repair and restoration projects at Brodick Castle on Arran and Craigievar Castle in Aberdeenshire.
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The Hill House
Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s architectural masterpiece turns art into a home.
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