Forgotten Buildings: Art Nouveau

Art Nouveau architecture is not something that

England

is overly familiar with. If I were to ask you to go through the architectural history of the country from the Tudor period onwards, I bet many of you would bypass this form.

This is not overly surprising (I'll admit, I have only even discovered it!!) as the general period only lasts two decades and it was overshadowed by its more popular sister Art Deco a decade later. Originating from the Arts and Craft Movement by William Morries, it’s main hold was over European cities such as Paris and Brussels, with the Winter Garden at Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Waver. Where natural and feminie designs were swept up in all forms from fashion to architecture.

Scotland

, Glasgow especially, is possibly the only main part of the

where Art Nouveau has had a lasting effect.

The Glasgow School of Art, built by Charles Rennie McIntosh, was built between 1897 and 1909 and is the epitome of this architectural design. Although the building itself is rather domineering in its large symmetrical façade, the iron work that flows through both the internal and external front follows organic, natural designs that flow into smooth shapes. The shapes include, flowers, women, birds etc.