The Lighthouse

Originally designed in 1870 by John Baird for the Glasgow Herald, this building was substantially remodelled in 1893-95 by Charles Rennie Mackintosh whilst he was with Honeyman and Keppie. Its most striking feature is the water tower, which I had understood to be a doocot that the newspaper used for pigeon delivery of urgent news bulletins (the Victorian equivalent of the mobile phone network mast).

This shot is looking up the interior of the tower, showing the elegant new spiral staircase inserted by Page & Park when they converted the building circa 1999 to The Lighthouse, Glasgow's Centre for Architecture and Design. There are remarkable views of the city's roofscape from the top of the tower, and from the east-facing viewing gallery on the opposite side of the building.