Urgent appeal for Hill House ‘box’
AN urgent fundraising appeal has been launched to raise £1.5 million to build a protective box around a crumbling architectural masterpiece.
The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) plans to build a huge transparent cage around the Charles Rennie Mackintosh designed Hill House, whose sandstone structure is dissolving.
The property was built as a “home for the future” by Mackintosh between 1902 and 1904 but his choice of the new material Portland cement for the render led to problems as it has allowed water to soak in from the day it was first applied.
Decades of driving west coast wind and rain have saturated the walls, threatening the long-term survival of the property in Helensburgh.
The trust has already secured £3 million towards the construction of the box but needs another £1.5 million by the end of spring 2018 to reach the overall target.
Richard Williams, general manager for Glasgow and West at NTS, said: “This is one of the most urgent and important appeals in our history. We have very limited time to get the box in place around the Hill House and start the process of drying the building out.
“It’s imperative we secure the funds as soon as possible.
“The box shelter will also allow visitors to see the building from a completely new perspective, with an opportunity to get to rooftop level.”