Mackintosh Drawings, Glasgow School of Art, Architect, GSA Building, The Mac Scotland
Mackintosh Drawings Donated to Glasgow School of Art
Celebrated Scottish Architect, UK – Glasgow Architecture
Set of detailed architectural drawings of the Mackintosh Building donated to The Glasgow School of Art
1 Sep 2015
Mackintosh Drawings given to the Glasgow School of Art
A set of architectural drawings of the Mackintosh Building, which are the most comprehensive drawings of their type in existence, have been donated to Archives and Collections at The Glasgow School of Art it was announced today. The drawings will be used in the restoration of the Mackintosh Building, and will be a resource for academics, students and the public.
These particularly detailed drawings are going to be an invaluable source of information
– Liz Davidson, Senior Project Manager, Mackintosh Building Restoration
Professor Tom Inns, Director of The Glasgow School of Art, examines one of the special set of drawings donated to the GSA. The drawing shows the west wing including the lecture theatre, the library and the top floor studio.
The set of 22 “A1” size drawings, most at 1:100 scale, were made by George Cairns whilst he was undertaking a Phd at The Mackintosh School of Architecture at the GSA in the early 1990s. They are of the Mackintosh Building as it was completed in 1909, as accurately as could be determined from available records.
Cairns, who is now Adjunct Professor at QUT Business School, Brisbane, is visiting Glasgow for the inaugural Leverhulme International Network of Contemporary Studies symposium and he presented the plans to the GSA this morning.
Professor Tom Inns, Director of The Glasgow School of Art, and Professor George Cairns examine one of the “invaluable” architectural drawings which Professor Cairns has given to The Glasgow School of Art.
“I am delighted to be able to return to Glasgow today after so many years and to be able to donate this set of drawings which I made as part of my doctoral thesis to the GSA,” says Professor Cairns. “I hope very much that they will prove of interest and use to the teams working on the restoration of the Mack and to generations of students who have the privilege to study Mackintosh’s masterpiece.”
Mackintosh Drawings Donated to GSA: Archive
The plans will be added to the significant archive of material relating to Mackintosh’s masterpiece that is held in the Archives and Collections at the GSA.
“The GSA Archives and Collections has a wealth of material relating to the Mackintosh Building, but we are always grateful for additions that help to deepen our understanding of the building,” says Alison Stevenson, Head of Learning at The Glasgow School of Art. “Professor Cairns’ drawings will enrich the architectural information we hold on the building and be an excellent resource for research, teaching and learning.”
The drawings will also used by the Mackintosh Building restoration team
“We are keen to continue to access as much information as possible about the building in planning our approach to the restoration,” says Liz Davidson, Senior Project Manager for the Mackintosh Building Restoration project. “Professor Cairns’ has already been generous in his time in liaising with the design team and these particularly detailed drawings are going to be an invaluable source of information.”
The drawings will now be digitised and will accessible for academic and public research through the GSA’s online archives in the coming months.
Comments about this Mackintosh Drawings Donated to Glasgow School of Art article are welcome
17 Apr 2015
Mackintosh Building Public Symposium
Building On: Mackintosh
Venue: The Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, Scotland
Date: Friday, 17 April 2015, 10:00 to 17:00 (BST)
This is the second public symposium on the Mackintosh Building.
Hear about the challenges of working with a Category A listed building, and what new insights the fire has revealed about the original construction of Mackintosh’s masterpiece. In the morning expert panellists present papers on issues facing the GSA in the aftermath of the fire. At lunchtime meet the newly appointed lead architects and hear about their initial thoughts for the restoration programme.
In the afternoon join workshops to explore in detail themes ranging from 21st century Libraries to contemporary craft, future-proofing historic buildings and ideas of authenticity in cultural artefacts. The day is chaired by and will end with a keynote address from one of the UK’s leading Architecture Critics, Rowan Moore.
This event has been informed by the insights and discourse from the first Building On: Mackintosh symposium held last October in Venice during the 2014 Architecture Biennale.
31 Mar 2015
Mackintosh Building Restoration Architects Announced
Page Park Architects to Restore the Mackintosh Building
There was a major step forward in the restoration of the Mackintosh Building today, Tuesday 31 March 2015, as The Glasgow School of Art announced the appointment of a design team led by Page Park Architects. The appointment was made following presentations by a shortlist of five architecture practices earlier this month.
28 Mar 2015
Glasgow School of Art Renewal
The Glasgow School of Art will name the architect practice expected to replicate the Mackintosh library, which was almost entirely gutted by fire, by the 31st of March.
Tom Inns told the Scottish press he wanted The Mac library to be restored ‘as closely as possible’ to Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s original, according to the AJ. There has been an ongoing debate in the last year as to whether a more contemporary architectural design would be appropriate – with architects such as Alan Dunlop arguing in favour of a bolder approach (comments welcome).
The GSA estimates that the cost of restoring the building could reach £35m. Scottish ministers and the UK government have already pledged to contribute to a restoration fund that aims to raise £20m, reports The Guardian. The fund was launched in June by Brad Pitt and former GSA student Peter Capaldi. The recovery programme is expected to be completed by 2018.
8 Jan 2015
Glasgow School of Art Shortlist
Five British Architects Shortlisted:
Avanti
John McAslan & Partners
LDN Architects
Page / Park
Purcell
The architect have been shortlisted for the restoration of the Macintosh building in Glasgow and were selected from 14 entries via PQQ.
There were around 100 expressions of interest from around the world but that there had been a high drop-out rate when architects saw the detailed requirements.
They have nine weeks to come up with more detailed proposals and costings. Presentations to a panel of GSA staff and external specialists will take place in March with the winner announced later in March.
12 Nov 2014
Fourteen architecture studios have formally registered their interest in wishing to be involved as architects in the restoration of Glasgow School of Art’s Mackintosh building, reports the AJ today. There were 100 initial expressions of interest from architects.
7 Jun 2014
Four minute “short” of an hour long, exceptional BBC documentary:
Glasgow School of Art Building
Glasgow School of Art (GSA) has pledged to “bring back” the Mackintosh building after a fire two weeks ago left the iconic structure badly damaged.
In an emotional open letter of thanks to those who helped in the aftermath of the fire, the governors said their first priority was to help students.
They add: “Rest assured we will do everything we can to bring back The Mack, and we’ll do it together.”
A restoration fund has already drawn millions of pounds in pledges.
About 200 firefighters were involved in tackling the blaze at its height.
We at e-architect echo the sentiments expressed in the letter.
Like every year we will attend the Degree Show, the annual showcase of work by graduating students across Architecture and Design, plus a curated exhibition from Fine Art, 14 – 21 June.
Support The Mac restoration: Glasgow School of Art Fire Fund
24 + 23 May 2014
Rennie Mackintosh News
Glasgow School of Art Fire
Update – Saturday, 18.37 + 7.52am GMT
Little further information online currently about The Mac, 90% of the building is claimed to be seaved, but very sadly not looking good for the GSA Library as far as we can see.
Video from Friday looking east at the world-famous Modernist west gable of the GSA, no dialogue:
Film on YouTube
Friday evening, 23 May 2014 – 21.35 GMT:
Updated statement from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service on the Mackintosh Building:
Firefighters battling the blaze at the iconic Macintosh Building in Glasgow City Centre have prevented the destruction of both the structure and the majority of its contents.
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service crews are continuing work to fully extinguish the fire and save artworks.
With the incident under control indications are the firefighters’ efforts have ensured more than 90 per cent of the structure is viable and protected up to 70 per cent of the contents – including many students’ work.
Read more at Glasgow School of Art Fire statement – link to GSA Press page
Fire crews tackle blaze at Glasgow School of Art.
Fire crews are tackling a fire at the A-listed Glasgow School of Art in the centre of the city, reports the BBC today.
“An eyewitness said the fire appeared to have started in the basement of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh building in Renfrew Street just before 12:30. Smoke is billowing from the main windows, which are cracking, and through the attic studios. Smoke is also drifting across the M8. Police have cordoned off Renfrew Street.”
photo © Adrian Welch
From the photos it appears the fire is in the west side of the building, we hope to report more information as it happens throughout the day.
It is of concern that fire has spread from the basement to the roof, essentially fire damage might have occurred up the centre of the west wing, and smoke damage would most likely affect the entire building.
photo of Library interior
Glasgow School of Art Fire : BBC report.
The GSA is a world-famous building and we take regular architecture tours to see it outside and in, the key building in Scotland’s largest city.
Unconfirmed report that it started from a spark igniting expanding foam, in the Basement.
photo © Adrian Welch
A key question would be why/how the fire was allowed to spread, where there sprinklers in the building and if not, why?
The main spaces on the north frontage are simpler, but the Library on the west is intricate and wooden, we’ve trawled reprots but found no information on the Library, information is welcome.
Here is another link, to the Glasgow Herald:
The president of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS), Iain Connelly, said the value of the building “goes well beyond Glasgow or even Scotland”.
He added: “It is a work of architectural heritage of world renown and its influence on 20th century architecture is immeasurable. Scotland has seen the loss of an international treasure which reflects the genius of one of our greatest ever architects.”
Report: Adrian Welch, architect.
Photo: Charlie Anderson
Glasgow School of Art Building : link to e-architect’s sister site, Glasgow Architecture
President of the Royal Instutute of British Architects, Stephen Hodder, said: “The most important work by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, an architect of international significance, Glasgow School of Art, is held in the highest regard by architects and the public alike.
“It was rightly judged to be the best building of the past 175 years, in a nationwide poll run by the Royal Institute of British Architects.
“Damage to a building of such immense significance and uniqueness is an international tragedy. It is irreplaceable.
“The RIBA joins our colleagues in Scotland in sending out a message to the students, staff of the School and all those who have been associated with this building over the decades.
“It’s a message of sorrow and commiseration at this terrible, terrible news.
“It is too early to talk about what happens now, but the institute will do anything it can to help in any way.”
Rennie Mackintosh – Key Projects
Key Rennie Mackintosh Buildings
Glasgow Herald
Glasgow School of Art
Hill House
House for an Art Lover
Willow Tea Rooms
Hunterian Gallery
Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Architect, was born in 1868 in Parson St, Townhead, Glasgow. His Martyrs Public School can still be found here.
GSA Building:
southwest view © Adrian Welch
Architect CR Mackintosh died London, England 1928
For Rennie Mackintosh’s history / background scroll down to lower part of page
Rennie Mackintosh Works in full
Glasgow School of Art, 167 Renfrew Street, off Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow
1897-1909
north frontage photo © Adrian Welch
Glasgow School of Art is probably the most well known Charles Rennie Mackintosh building and certainly his most well respected.
Glasgow Herald Building, 56 Mitchell St, Glasgow
Hill House, Upper Colquhoun Street, Helensburgh, north-west of Glasgow
House for an Art Lover, Bellahouston Park, Glasgow
Willow Tea Rooms, 217 Sauchiehall St, Glasgow
Hunterian Gallery, 82 Hillhead St, Kelvingrove, Glasgow
78 Derngate, Northampton, England
1916-17, refurbishment of No. 78 1998-2003 by John McAslan + Partners
Last major building by architect Rennie Mackintosh
e-architect offer walking tours to visit Rennie Mackintosh buildings in Glasgow. Contact isabelle(at)e-architect.com for details
Location: Glasgow School of Art
Rennie Mackintosh architect Practice Information
Rennie Mackintosh is recognised as one of the World’s great architects
Glasgow Rennie Mackintosh Festival 2006
Comments / photos for the Mackintosh Drawings Donated to Glasgow School of Art page welcome
