The Lighthouse - museum of design (The Lighthouse (Glasgow))

Member Name: floor

Product:	The Lighthouse (Glasgow)
Date:	21/03/09 (21 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great exhibitions, interesting space, cool shop

Disadvantages: none!

I LOVE the Lighthouse - and now it's FREE on a Saturday! Fantastic! But this is a review, so I need to tell you why it floats my boat.

Well, first off I love the deisgn. As a museum of architecture and design it had to be good - and it has a lovely, airy feel. A mash-up of a new building and an existing one, with original windows and exposed brick on display inside. There is a small gift shop dowstairs stocking a well priced range of quirky gifts (if you can bear to part with them) and cards and a larger shop upstairs selling some more high-end items (fancy a little Marimekko fabric, anyone?)

Upstairs there are two galleries with ever-changing exhibitions and one with a static Charles Rennie Mackintosh exhibition. The CRM Gallery has a very comprehensive review of his work, with pictures, models and video clips. It also has a spiral staircase which leads up to the top of the Daily Record Tower - one of his designs and the original owners of the building. It looks like a daunting clib, but once up there the view is well worth it!

Last time I visited Gallery 1 had an exhibition of new designers works - all well labelled and displayed and Gallery 2 had turned into a knitted wonderland, courtesy of Donna Wilson. I was really taken with this and when I requested a poster from the staff they went out of their way to find one for me.

Unfortunately I can't comment on the food or drink because I haven't eaten there - but it smells great!

Before you leave, head up to the Viewing Gallery via the lift and chill out for a bit high above the city.

Summary: Always worth a visit - especially now it's free on Saturdays!