Robert ('Nic') Hamilton Macintyre was born on 2 February 1940 in Glasgow. During the war his family moved to Kilwinning in Ayrshire and he was educated at Irvine Royal Academy. He had early ambitions of becoming an artist. However his schooling was curtailed after the death of his father and he found a place as apprentice in a local architect's office while at the same time becoming a part-time student at the University of Strathclyde. He later studied at the Mackintosh School of Architecture, Glasgow School of Art.
While he was in Glasgow he pursued his interest in the performing arts, taking part in a drama workshop in Greenock which was run by Alex Gourlay, who was to become a leading set designer with the BBC, and Bill Bryden. Macintyre helped design the sets and produce the programme as well as taking some minor roles on the stage.
After graduation he worked for Keppie Henderson & Partners and in 1966 joined Gillespie Kidd & Coia, remaining there until 1971. He then worked for a short period with John Laing Design Associates on a major housing project in Belfast but moved to William Holford & Partners. In 1974 he obtained a post with Lobbing & Mullineux in Dingwall. He moved to Inverness to run a branch of Parr & Partners. He set up his own practice in Inverness in 1978.
Macintyre had a long-standing interest in ecclesiastical architecture and this continued with numerous commissions for the RC Diocese of Aberdeen. For a period of time he was Diocesan Architect for the Episcopal Diocese of Moray Ross & Caithness.
Macintyre had a visionary outlook and was frequently involved with schemes for improving parts of Inverness. He had many interests which he pursued with real commitment. One outcome of his drive and determination was the recreation of Charles Rennie Mackintosh's artist's studio at Farr in rural Inverness-shire , 1990-1992 for his friend Dr Peter Tovell, an art dealer. He was also one of the three directors of the Mackintosh Gallery, a plan to redevelop the long-derelict Falcon Square area, Inverness, incorporating an original Charles Rennie Mackintosh design and championing the cause of the Scottish Fine Arts Group. This was to serve as a landmark art gallery for the town but the bid to the National Arts Foundation was not successful. He also backed the Inverness Arts Forum's fight for the conversion of the Rose Street Hall into a small-scale community performance venue, though this too was unsuccessful. Hector Macdonald described him as ‘a passionate man …[who] did nothing in half measures. The Artist’s Cottage will be an abiding monument and deservedly so’.
He was also involved in matters relating to the profession: he served as secretary of the Inverness Architectural Association and as chairman of RIAS Services Ltd.
Outwith his career he was a major in Territorial Army and was awarded the Territorial Distinction in 1976. He was also a scout commissioner and a member of Inverness Chamber of Commerce.
In 1993 he was appointed lecturer in architecture and building science at Inverness College. He was patient with his students and a popular lecturer. At the time of his death he was contemplating undertaking a Masters Degree in Philosophy.
He died on 18 September 1997 survived by his wife Mary and his two children and grandchild.
References to Macintyre and his work in newspapers:
1. Rose Street Hall
Love, Jim (11 May 1993). \"Nic's £1.3 million town arts centre plan began on auntie's jotter\". The Inverness Courier (Inverness).
2. The Artist's Cottage
Hall, Michael (26 November 1992). \"The Artist's Cottage, Inverness\". Country Life (London), p34-37.
Macintyre, Robert Hamilton (Spring 1992). \"An Artist's Cottage and Studio\". CRM Society Newsletter (Glasgow), No 58, p5-8.
Macintyre, Robert Hamilton. An Artist's Cottage and Studio (1990-92), drwg series: TOVL and DTL.
Love, Jim (5 May 1992). \"Architect's 90-year dream comes true at Strathnairn\". The Inverness Courier (Inverness).
Ogilvie-Laing, Gerald (6 November 1992). \"Fatuous arguments\". Letters to the editor, The Inverness Courier (Inverness).
McKean, Charles (26 April 1993). \"New life for a modern masterpiece\". The Scotsman (Edinburgh).
Pringle, Richard (July 1994). \"Mackintosh 'dream' that became a reality\". The Scotsman (Edinburgh).
Fraser, Douglas (19 July 1994). \"Latter-day Mackintosh house for sale\". The Scotsman (Edinburgh).
\"Mackintosh house goes on sale\". The Herald (Glasgow). 19 July 1994.
\"Mackintosh dream home built\". The Times (London). 8 August 1994.
de Courcy, Anne (13 August 1994). \"The dream house that came to life\". Daily Mail (London), p36-7.
Jarvie, Andrew (1994). \"Mackintosh dream house on market\". Press and Journal (Aberdeen).
Partridge, Chris (3 September 1994). \"Property\". The Daily Telegraph (London).
Cadogan, Gerald (3 September 1994). \"Mackintosh lives again\". Financial Times (London).
Pearman, Hugh (11 September 1994). \"Posthumous modern\". The Sunday Times (London).
Sinclair, Bill (14 September 1994). \"The Mackintosh house that Charles Rennie didn't build\". The Herald, Scotland's Homes (Glasgow), p1 and 22.
Wilcox, Caren (November 1994). 'Living design'. Scottish Field (Edinburgh), p48-9.
Gillilan, Lesley (31 December 1994). \"Mackintoshes for sale\". The Guardian (London).
Ross, John (25 April 1996). \"How Mackintosh's dream became a modern family home\". The Scotsman (Edinburgh), p18.
Waddell, Heather (25 May 1996). \"New, original Mackintosh\". The Times (London).
Robertson, Alastair (23 June 1996). \"Dusting off old masters\". The Sunday Times (London).
Bissell, Therese (August 1996). 'Ad at Large'. Architectural Digest (New York), p2.
Renshaw, Rosalind (December 1996). 'The Artist's Cottage'. Build It magazine (London), p6-14.
'Piloti' (27 December 1996). \"Nooks and Corners\". Private Eye (London), No 914.
Brown, Beverley (1997). 'The Artist's Cottage and Studio'. Home Magazine (Glasgow), p19-23.
Deveney, Catherine (19 January 1997). \"Shock of the old\". Scotland on Sunday (Edinburgh).
Shields, Jenny (11 April 1997). \"Self-starters home in on the future\". The Mail (Scotland).
An Artist's Cottage and Studio\". Bidwells (Perth), particulars. 1999, p1-16.
van Beelan, Sandie (27 June 1996). \"Art group plan to show al fresco\". Press and Journal (Aberdeen).
Love, Jim (28 June 1996). \"Rabbits' heads make Mum's heart sink\". The Inverness Courier (Inverness).
\"House of art - Alexander Berdysheff and Suzanne Gyseman\". Press and Journal (Aberdeen). 20 June 1997.
Love, Jim (24 June 1997). \"Scottish art-lovers with Georgia on their mind\". The Inverness Courier (Inverness).
Glendinning, MacInnes and MacKechni (1996). A History of Scottish Architecture, Ch9 '1960 to the Present Day'. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh. p 488 ISBN 978-0748608492
McKean, Charles (1994). Scottish Dimensions, Diary 'January'. R.I.A.S. Publications, Edinburgh. ISBN 1-87331-901-2
Knevitt, Charles (1994). Shelter, p94-5. Polymath Publishing, Streatley-on-Thames. ISBN 1-873224-04-4
Wilhide, Elizabeth (1995). The Mackintosh Style, p149 and p152-3. Pavilion Books, London. ISBN 1-86205-121-6
The Home Show Series, #2, Alan Douglas, \"The Artist's Cottage\". STV Scottish Television (Glasgow), broadcast 1995, run time 14min, all sequences.
3. Mackintosh Galleries Ltd
\"Art gallery scheme angers Falcon Square developers\". The Inverness Courier (Inverness). 8 May 1992.
Love, Jim (8 May 1992). \"An excellent showcase for local artists and national collections?\". The Inverness Courier (Inverness).
Editorial (8 May 1992). \"When second is best\". The Inverness Courier (Inverness).
Love, Jim (5 June 1992). \"Planners' choice - art or commerce\". The Inverness Courier (Inverness).
Love, Jim (3 July 1992). \"Civic Trust backs rival Falcon Square scheme\". The Inverness Courier (Inverness).
Love, Jim (4 August 1992). \"Question over town centre shops complex\". The Inverness Courier (Inverness).
Love, Jim (14 August 1992). \"Partners unveil radical new plan for town centre\". The Inverness Courier (Inverness).
Love, Jim (14 August 1992). \"Mackintosh team unveils its grand design for Inverness town centre redevelopment\". The Inverness Courier (Inverness).
Editorial (14 August 1992). \"Station yardstick\". The Inverness Courier (Inverness).
Love, Jim (16 February 1993) \"Developers revise Falcon Square plans\". The Inverness Courier (Inverness).
\"Arts group on attack over region stance on complex\". Press and Journal (Aberdeen). 23 February 1993.
\"Decision asked for on Falcon Square scheme\". The Inverness Courier (Inverness). 23 February 1993.
Love, Jim (26 February 1993). \"Planner hits back over gallery\". The Inverness Courier (Inverness).