Following the success of the Brutal Glasgow exhibition, Glasgow City Heritage Trust is taking the project out into the city this August with the launch of the Brutalist Glasgow Trail. This free city-wide trail transforms the exhibition into an interactive experience, with eight of Natalie Tweedie’s striking illustrations installed at venues across Glasgow, close to the iconic Brutalist buildings they depict.
An illustration of The Glasgow School of Art’s Bourdon Building, which houses the Mackintosh School of Architecture and the GSA library, will be on display in the Reid Building foyer throughout the event, which runs from 6–28 August. Participants in the trail are invited to explore the city, discover the artworks, and learn more about Glasgow’s post-war architecture and the stories behind it.
Designed by Keppie, Henderson and Partners—successors to the original firm who worked with Charles Rennie Mackintosh on “The Mack” building—the 1979 Bourdon Building is a Brutalist design that champions raw concrete and steel over historical refinement. By bridging Renfrew Street itself, the architects achieved a great functionalist success, accommodating massive communal studios essential for architectural teaching with views across the city. In close relation to the Mackintosh school, which was commissioned as a “plain building” to host the messy, rough reality of training artists, the Bourdon relies on robust geometric forms to fulfil the functional requirements of the school as a modern teaching space.
“The Glasgow School of Art is delighted to be part of the Brutal Glasgow trail and to celebrate the Bourdon Building as an important part of Glasgow’s architectural story.” Says Johnny Rodger, Professor of Urban Literature at The Glasgow School of Art.
“Its bold, distinctive design reflects the optimism and ambition of post-war architecture, while continuing to provide a home for creativity and learning today. I wrote the text guide to the Bourdon, and having worked within its walls for over twenty years, I am pleased to have the opportunity to appreciate and, indeed, celebrate the building. We hope the trail encourages people to take a fresh look at Glasgow’s Brutalist buildings, discover the stories they hold, and to look up and appreciate the rich architectural heritage that makes the city so unique.”
Each trail stop features one of the exhibition artworks alongside a QR code linking to the digital exhibition, where visitors can access historic photographs, films, expert commentary and first-hand memories from people who lived and worked in the buildings.
For full details of how to join and participate in the trail, visit the Glasgow Heritage Trust website HERE. The research guide, written by Professor Johnny Rodgers, examining the design history and significance of the Bourdon Building can be found HERE.
The trail runs at venues across Glasgow from 6–28 August 2026.
| ends |
NOTES FOR EDITORS
About Glasgow City Heritage Trust
Glasgow’s historic buildings tell the story of the city- its communities, creativity and everyday life. From sandstone tenements to great civic landmarks, they shape the character of the city we live in today.
Glasgow City Heritage Trust is an independent charity, supported by Glasgow City Council and Historic Environment Scotland, working to ensure these places are understood, cared for and sustained for the future. Since 2007, we have invested over £14.3 million to help repair 582 of Glasgow’s historic buildings.
About The Glasgow School of Art
The Glasgow School of Art (GSA) is internationally recognised as one of Europe’s leading independent university-level institutions for education and research in the visual creative disciplines – ranking 8th in the world and 5th in Europe in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Our studio-based, specialist, practice-led teaching, learning and research draw talented individuals with a shared passion for visual culture and creative production from all over the world.
Originally founded in 1845 as one of the first Government Schools of Design, the School’s history can be traced back to 1753 and the establishment of the Foulis Academy delivering a European-style art education. Today, the GSA is an international community of over 3,500 students and staff across architecture, design, digital, fine art and innovation in our campuses in Glasgow and Altyre (in the Scottish Highlands) and a thriving Open Studio programme delivering non-degree provision to over 1,500 students annually.
