Basic Site Details Name: | Scottish Ideal Home Exhibition, Daily Mail competition, Model/demonstration house | Town, district or village: | Kelvin Hall | City or county: | Glasgow | Country: | Scotland | Parish: | | Status: | Demolished | Grid ref: | | Notes: | Featured at the Scottish Ideal Home Exhibition 5-29 October 1932. Exhibition sponsored by the London Daily Mail newspaper.
Named ‘the House that Jean Built’, as a generic Scottish woman’s name, in contradistinction to the ‘House that Jack Built’ in the popular nursery rhyme. The London Daily Mail sponsored the second Scottish Ideal Home Exhibition, and in spring 1932 ran a contest open to all women of Scottish birth. Entrants had to submit ideas and ‘rough sketch plans’ for their ideal £1500 home, to be erected at the show in October. The winners announced in June were first, Mrs Elizabeth M Reid, 21 Crosbie St, Maryhill, prize £250; second jointly, Mrs A Anderson, Lerwick, Shetland, and Miss C Sutherland, Edinburgh. John McDonald (Contractors) Ltd built the house, ‘a somewhat daring modern design’, with 2 living rooms, 3 bedrooms, sun-porch and for Glasgow, ‘sun bathing facilities on the roof’. Mrs Reid, a teacher, acted as guide or hostess ‘to explain and defend her unconventional ideas’ to visitors during the run of the exhibition. The ‘small details often overlooked in man-designed homes’ included no mouldings to dust, generous wardrobes, sliding doors to join reception rooms, and electric fires. Some aspects resemble McDonald’s other designs, such as the large Vitaglass windows, and pillared verandah. Furnished by Wylie & Lochhead Ltd.
Amateur designer Mrs Elizabeth May Reid of Maryhill acted as a guide to the house, which incorporated her ideas rather than being her exact specified plan.
McDonald offered to construct similar design in Bearsden, Burnside or Hillfoot for £1000 but it is not known if these were commissioned. | Alternative NamesThe following alternative names are associated with this building/design: | | Name | Current name? | Notes | | House that Jean Built | | |
Building Type ClassificationThe building is classified under the following categories: | | Classification | Original classification? | Notes | | House | | |
EventsThe following date-based events are associated with this building: | | From | To | Event type | Notes | | 1932 | | Build/construction | | | 5 October 1932 | 29 October 1932 | | Open to the public during this period. |
PeopleDesign and Construction
ReferencesPeriodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this building: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Edinburgh Evening News | 6 October 1932 | | | p3 Review of visit to exhibition describing the house. | | Motherwell Times | 26 August 1932 | | | Competition winners announced. Article entitled 'The House that Jean Built: Scottish Women win £350'. | | Motherwell Times | 21 October 1932 | | | p6 Review of visit to the house |
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