Glasgow Style Toilets
Posted by Jackie on July 18, 2009
A terrible photo (it doesn’t look too bad as a thumbnail!), but I’m including it because it made us laugh – my husband spotted it first, and wondered what “Glasgow Style Toilets” were. This is also from the Kelvingrove Museum.
Bob Crowe said
That’s very funny. Didn’t any of the designers or museum officials, um, look? We went to some of the Charles Rennie Macintosh shrines on our two visits to Glasgow but none of them features his ideas on modern WCs.
Bob Crowe said
By the way, thank you for your recent comments on St. Louis Daily Photo.
Sven said
Take an ordinary toilet, straighten out the curves and make it extra high, that’s what Mackintosh would do.
Andrew said
Sorry, I just don’t get this sign. Please explain?
Tinsie said
Hahaha this is indeed funny
Jackie said
Sven, that’s what we were thinking too!
Andrew, it’s probably going to lose everything in translation, but anyway I’ll try! So, Charles Rennie Mackintosh was one of the main proponents of an art and architecture movement known as the “Glasgow Style”, and so the sign is obviously pointing to that section of the museum (Sven’s comment is basically a description of a typical Mackintosh chair design). We just read the entire sign in one go (hence the “what is a Glasgow style toilet anyway” thing), rather than (as it intends) as pointing to two separate things. Not sure if that helps at all
Katya said
That is too funny, Jackie! Sure does read “strangely”!
Jacob said
Sometimes you wonder if anyone proof reads what they write…or steps back and looks at a sign like this…
Funny, yes!
marley said
You have to go in a traffic cone! Lol!
Jani said
That’s hilarious! Oh, and if one were to look for Mackintosh’s “Glasgow Style Toilets”, wouldn’t the Mackintosh House by the Glasgow Uni Library be a good place to start? I’d assume Mackintosh also designed the bathrooms, seeing as it seems he was a bit of a control freak.
Linda said
Have to admit that I did actually start to imagine what a CRM toilet would look like, and wondered how I’d missed this iconic development.
Gerald said
brilliant juxtapositioned sign!
Andrew said
Got it Jackie. Funny, when I looked at it last night, I just did not see the two separate arrows. With the weak winter sun on the monitor this morning, it was clear as day,though clearly I am not the only one. We must learn that signs are not pictures to be taken in as a whole, but writing to be read carefully.
JM said
LOL! I also read Glasgow Style Toilets!
)
m_m said
Hehe:) Nice capture!