Who designed the stained-glass windows of the Glasgow School of Art’s Mackintosh Building?

Charles Rennie Mackintosh designed the stained-glass windows of the Glasgow School of Art’s Mackintosh Building.

Mackintosh designed the Glasgow School of Art in stages between 1897 and 1909, creating one of the defining buildings of British Art Nouveau and the Glasgow Style. His approach treated architecture, furniture, interior decoration, and fittings as parts of a unified design rather than separate specialties.

The building’s stained glass reflects his preference for controlled geometry, stylized natural forms, and strong contrasts. Motifs such as elongated plant shapes and simplified linear patterns appear across the interiors. The windows therefore belong to a broader artistic language rather than functioning only as colorful openings.

The Mackintosh Building suffered major fires in 2014 and 2018. Restoration has been complex because the aim is to preserve Mackintosh’s design while addressing modern safety and structural requirements. The building remains distinct from Mackintosh’s work at Hill House and his furniture designs.