Grant to save Charles Rennie Mackintosh's Hill House in Helensburgh

The Hill House in Helensburgh was built for the Blackie family in 1902

An American charity has donated £95,000 to help preserve one of Charles Rennie Mackintosh's finest buildings.

The Getty Foundation grant will help the National Trust for Scotland in its efforts to raise £2.5m to protect Hill House in Helensburgh from the weather.

The house, built for publisher Walter Blackie in 1902, faces a significant threat from "excessive water ingress".

It is regarded as the Scots architect's finest domestic building. Mackintosh also designed nearly everything inside.

Earlier this week, the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) announced a fundraising drive to pay for weatherproofing of Hill House.

The heritage body, which has cared for the building for more than 30 years, said Mackintosh made use of "innovative" building techniques to create the beautiful, minimalist exterior design.

'Exceptional generosity'

However, because he did not use "traditional weathering details", there had been "excessive water ingress" into the 113-year-old building.

The Getty Foundation grant is being made through the Keeping it Modern architectural conservation grants initiative.

This is the first award under the initiative made to a building in the UK, confirming Hill House, in the eyes of the foundation, as a property of international significance.

NTS chief executive, Simon Skinner, described the Getty Foundation award as "an exceptional act of generosity...for an exceptional building".

"Last year's events at the Glasgow School of Art were a salutary reminder of the preciousness and importance to architecture of Mackintosh's remaining buildings," he said.

"Although many of the conservation challenges at Hill House stem from the original specifications, we are obliged for the sake of Scotland's heritage to ensure that this striking and wholly innovative property is brought to the best possible condition for future generations to enjoy.

"The Getty Foundation's grant allows us to materially progress our conservation plan for Hill House."