Mackintosh at the Willow scoops top award

Saved from being lost forever five years ago, the tea rooms have been refurbished to appear exactly as they did when they opened in 1903, right down to the glass baubles in the chandeliers.

And this painstaiking attention to detail caught the attention of judges who have bestowed upon it the title of Project of the Year Scotland, in the RICS annual awards Building Conservation category.

Opened in 1903, the Willow Tea Rooms are almost unique in that Mackintosh was given complete control over their design, from the facade on the outside to the cutlery and even the waitresses' uniforms.

Built during the heyday of the temperance movement in the city, the tea rooms were the brainchild of businesswoman Kate Cranston, who wanted to establish a genteel space for the consumption of non-alcoholic beverages.

And while the Glasgow School of Art, which now sits in ruins following a devastating fire, is considered Mackintosh's masterpiece, the tea rooms came were a blank canvas on which he was allowed to unleash his creativity.

READ MORE: Replica of Mackintosh tea rooms’ stunning centrepiece to be installed in restored building

The architect remodelled the exterior of the 1860s tenement block and oversaw the interior decorative elements, including features such as its iconic straight-backed chairs, stained-glass panels and a vast sculptural relief composed by Mackintosh's wife, the artist Margaret Macdonald.

But although cherished by modern-day audiences, Mackintosh's style wasn't wholly appreciated in his time and the team rooms decor went out of fashion - and the lavish interiors were allowed to decay.

Various attempts were made over the years to preserve or restore the building, but much was lost, including the plaster facade which did so much to distinguish the building from its neighbour tenements on Sauchiehall Street.

Then in 2014 it seemed the lights would go out forever when the building became the subject of a forced sale - meaning the remaining collection could be broken up and sold to collectors and the suite of rooms repurposed into something else.

But it was saved at the 11th-hour by Glasgow businesswoman Celia Sinclair, who purchased the tea rooms and set about raising £10 million to bring them back to their former glory.

Specialist craftspeople were sought out across Scotland and the rest of the UK to carry out the work, with more than 400 pieces of furniture recreated by specialists such as bespoke cabinet maker Kelvin Murray.

The original tea rooms had three sections and are all being fully restored, even though the designers had to turn detective to restore Mackintosh's vision.

READ MORE: Charles and Camilla open restored Mackintosh tea rooms

Pouring over old photographs and dated descriptions, they peeled back the tea room's secrets, such as the dark purple velvet which was used on the chairs - sourced from Italy - and the exact shade of off-white paint for the walls, found by analysis of fragments of existing paint within the building.

The restored building - now christened Mackintosh at the Willow due to a dispute over the naming rights - was opened in September last year by Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay.

Celia Sinclair of The Willow Tea Rooms Trust (right) and Lord Provost, Eva Bolander.

The restoration triumphed over 35 of the country’s most inspiring property projects to win the RICS award.

Of the project, judges said that incredible care was taken to preserve original features and to faithfully recreate original furniture and fitments through detailed research and use of local artisans and craftsmen.

Chair of the judging panel for the RICS Awards, Scotland, Colin Smith MRICS, said: “Great care and attention to detail was taken during this restoration. Additionally, a Trust was established to manage the building and the £10million used to restore it internally and externally has also been utilised to provide wider long-term community benefits.”

Hosted by Catriona Sheerer, the RICS Awards 2019, Scotland took place at The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa in Edinburgh yesterday.

Jean Sinclair, Executive Director, Willow Tea Rooms Trust, said: "We are delighted, this award is a great tribute to a very small team, the Board of Trustees, the expert advisory panel and all involved in the project. We would like to give a special thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund.”

Celia Sinclair, Founder and Chair of the Willow Tea Room Trust added: “We are delighted to accept the award for ‘Project of the Year 2019’.

"We have worked hard over the last four years to bring this incredible building back to life, a place where people can enjoy fine food in the original Mackintosh interior of 1903 at the restored ‘Mackintosh at the Willow’ and also learn more about the life of Mackintosh and his benefactor Miss Cranston in our visitor and education centre. This award is for everyone who has been involved in the project.”

READ MORE: Restored Glasgow Tea Rooms welcome guests on Mackintosh anniversary

She continued: “Thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund and private and public donors, the important cultural and rich heritage of the Willow Tea Rooms Building has been conserved and opened up for many more people to enjoy. ‘Mackintosh at the Willow’ is once again a focal point for Cultural Tourism in the City, attracting both domestic and international visitors.”

Other winners included The Garment Factory, Glasgow, which took the Commercial title, the V&A, Dundee, which won the Tourism & Leisure category and the transformation of the Music Hall, Aberdeen, for Community Benefit.

All category winners will go on to compete against other regional winners at the national RICS Awards Grand Final on Friday 4 October at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London, for the chance to be crowned the overall UK winner in their respective category.