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| Smoke coming out of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Building Glasgow School of Art Glasgow, Scotland e-architect.co.uk |
Every now and then, Blogger comes across an article, on the social media, that piques her interest. In this case an article from today's New York Times, posted by the Society of Architectural Historians. The article, written by Christopher D. Shea and titled "Restoring a Charles Rennie Mackintosh Architectural Gem From the Ashes," looks at the renovation work being undertaken to save this gem. In May 2014, a small fire in the basement quickly tore through the building on the campus of the Glasgow School of Art. The fire made its way toward the upper stories, in the process burning most of the west wing, long cherished as a jewel in the Glaswegian architectural crown. After two years of careful planning, preservation, debris removal, the restoration on the treasure is finally set to begin.
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| Charles Rennie Mackintosh en.wikipedia.org |
It's one of this unique moments where you have to rethink how you actually use a building.
The devastating fire, in Mr. Inn's words,
...was actually a significant catalyst in how we think about the space.
Fires, other man-made and natural disasters do have that affect.
Charles Rennie Mackintosh is one of Blogger's favorite architects. Glasgow's native son completed the Art Nouveau-era building in 1909. He was well-known in Scotland and German-speaking countries for the way his love of "...florid lines and Japanese-inspired designs synced well with the tastes at the time." Unfortunately, his ability to earn commissions in the years following the structure's completion. As is the typical case, Charles Rennie Mackintosh's was not really appreciated until after his death in 1928, particularly for GSA. The building is still regularly used by students and administrators until the fire, attracting about 25,000 visitors each year.
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| GSA Library interior in the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Building Charles Rennie Mackintosh Glasgow, Scotland theguardian.com |
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| Lighting fixtures from the GSA Library Charles Rennie Mackintosh Glasgow, Scotland artistry.knoji.com |
One the day of the fire, research fellow Robyne Calvert recalled Glaswegians standing outside the building in tears mourning the loss of this treasure. Ms. Calvert recollected the sadness over the loss of this beloved landmark was palpable. The Mackintosh Building
...has been embedded in the history and culture of the city for 100 years.
After holding forums and an open competition for architects, the art school announced that it was restoring the building to something close to its original state. While some rejoiced over the the decision, others saw it as missed opportunity to innovate. Architect Alan Dunlop wrote in an essay for the BBC last spring,
Tom Inns, the school's director, has announced that the library will be rebuilt to the original design but will incorporate features that will bring it up-to-date...This is an opportunity lost, and makes a mockery of the architectural competition for new ideas.
This last point was a reference that Mr. Mackintosh won to building on the site.
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| Street elevation of the Mackintosh Building Charles Rennie Mackintosh Glasgow, Scotland dezeen.com |
We did think of other options...but very quickly discounted them.
He continued,
A big portion of the building is not damaged by the fire...It seemed entirely inappropriate to put something in place to replace that.
A more contemporary light-filled campus building, designed by American architect Steven Holl, opened across the street mere weeks before the fire.
In 2015, the firm of Page\Park Architects was appointed to lead the restoration. The firm studied archival photographs and documents together with school staff. Project manager Sarah McKinnon told Mr. Shea
There is a combination of trying to be true to the original design intent that Mackintosh had...and also of making the building functional and making it work.
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| GSA Library, southwest view c.1910 Photographby Annan © The Hunterian, University of Glasgow, 2014 19th-artworldwide.org |
The most noticeable change will be the removal of the glass partitions, installed over the years in the studio spaces. They will be taken out to create a more open-plan work area that closely adhere's to the buildings original scheme.
Glasgow School of Art's insurance settlement was approved last year, but the school has also begun a fund-raising drive with the goal of 32 million pounds ($41.4 million) to aid in the restoration and acquire the neighboring Stowe college site. So far £ 17 million ($22 million) has been secured through private and public help.
A GSA spokesperson assured Mr. Shea that the "Brexit" vote should have no affect on public funding. Students are expected to return to the building in the 2018-19 academic year. Robyn Calvert told Mr. Shea
There had become a kind of preciousness about some of those space, the library in particular...
Ms. Calvert, a lecturer at GSA would occasionally hold classes in the library. She is optimistic about the restoration, "...more art makers will begin to see the building as not just a museum like space but as one they can truly use."
Recent graduate Georgina Clapham wrote in an email,
I know that the return to the Mackintosh Building will be very emotional for all students and alumni that have passed through its doors...It will be nice for all areas of art and design to be reunited in one place.
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