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| Mark Baines, photo courtesy of Zhoujie Chen |
It is with great sadness that we hear of the passing away of our colleague Mark Baines. As an esteemed and respected teacher, practitioner and critic, Mark Baines played a distinctive and vital role at the heart of architectural culture in Glasgow and Scotland in general. Any comprehensive list of his important achievements and his experiences could never be retailed in the space available here, and his place in Glasgow life was a unique one.
His long connection with the Mackintosh School of Architecture started in the early 70s when he was amongst the first cohort of full time architecture students at his beloved Glasgow School of Art. After going out to work as a practising architect for a few years he returned to teach in the school in 1982 and he taught there right up until 2020. Generations of students were influenced by his encyclopaedic knowledge of the field and his quiet, patient, insightful and inspirational analyses which opened up a whole new spatial and structural world to them. He was the critical eminence grise behind the student edited annual MacMag, and he guided and oversaw the production of that publication which has refined and exposed the creative spirit of the Mac students since 1974. Public recognition of his position as a towering figure in the pedagogical culture of the Mac came when at the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland’s annual Design Tutor of the Year Awards in 2013 he was given a Lifetime Achievement Award.
After MSA Mark started his professional career at the firm of Gillespie Kidd and Coia. The firm had a long association with teaching in the school going back to the 1920s and arguably longer, and Mark joined them as they were at the cutting edge of the rebuilding of the country after WWII. His experience there under the tutelage of Isi Metzstein and Andy MacMillan, set the standards for his own life as an architect and architectural teacher in terms of the fundamental importance of drawing, the vision of the discipline as a collaborative one through the methodologies of the studio, and the necessity of a discursive critical approach to the work. Mark went on to work with other firms like Ian O Robertson Architect and Ian Bridges Architect through the eighties and onwards, especially on housing projects, and in 2007 completed the design and construction of the massive Merchant Building –a contemporary response in scale and material to the historical setting of Glasgow Cross – with his firm Gholami Baines.
As a critic Mark Baines played a prominent role as a public intellectual, writing chapters and articles for magazines, books and catalogues, putting on exhibitions and giving talks to innumerable groups and societies. Although his knowledge of architecture and architectural history was inexhaustible, and his moral and ethical discourses on where we live and how we do it drew a broad civic public, he became particularly well known for his critiques in a few specialist areas. After working with GKC and studying their work he became one of the acknowledged world experts in the field, writing extensively on the importance of their work in an international sense. Among the exhibitions he curated on the GKC work, his 2007 one drew the biggest viewing public that The Lighthouse has ever had for any show. He was also an authority on the great 19th century Glasgow architect, Greek Thomson, wrote extensively on his work, campaigned to save numerous of his buildings, and was Chair Person of the Greek Thomson Society. Although his own tastes and indeed practice were of a contemporary not to say modernist outlook, Mark Baines worked tirelessly to broadcast to the world the genius of Thomson’s work and his importance to architectural history.
Mark was a respected and admired colleague, and was recognised by his fellows for the perspicacity of his vision, the originality and acuity of his judgement and the consistency of his approach. For many people he embodied the successes of the studio system at the Mackintosh School of Architecture, as a humane teaching and learning environment. Generations of students and colleagues from all around the world have been humbled, then inspired by the breadth of his culture and his willingness to share it. He will be missed greatly at The Glasgow School of Art to which he was totally committed as a creative and collaborative institution.
Johnny Rodger,
Professor of Urban Literature at The Glasgow School of Art
Professor of Urban Literature at The Glasgow School of Art
Mark was a massive inspiration to me, both as a teacher and as an architect.
I wouldn’t be in my position today, if it wasn’t for Mark.
(I won the RIAS Tutor Award, the year Mark was acknowledged too – what an honour to share the dais with him).
David Charles Reat, Architect Director of Cultural Studies, Department of Architecture
University of Strathclyde
sad news. Mark was an exemplary educator, committed to the practical artistry of architecture making civic and delightful neighbourhoods. memorable sharing of his Glasgow knowledge in the dark wood lecture theatre womb of Mack, always open to learning and investigating more…
Suzanne Ewing, Zone Architects
So sad to hear of the passing of Mark Baines. Grateful for the patience, input and insight. A brilliant teacher.
Grace Choi, Grace Choi Architecture
Such sad news to hear about Mark’s passing on Monday. A wonderful man who will be sadly missed
Holmwood House
Sorry to hear of Mark’s passing. I was pleased to meet him during the bi-centenary year of Alexander Thomson’s birth and learn from his wisdom – he even introduced me to Thomson’s great great grandchildren. Thinking of his friends and family today @AThomsonSociety
Stewart Macdonald MP
Sorry to read of Mark’s passing. He was Glasgow’s champion for Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson, a gent and a scholar, and always wise, waspish and witty company.
Lost Glasgow
So sad to hear that Mark has gone. Remembered with great fondness and gratitude
Graven
Very sorry to hear of Mark’s passing. He was a contemporary of mine at the school and I remember fondly some highly enjoyable crits and debates with him and other colleagues at that time He was an quiet but engaging character who will be sorely missed by all. My condolences to family and friends. There is no doubt his contribution to the School of Architecture was immense.
Sandy Cooper RIBA FRIAS
This is heart breaking news. May his soul rest in peace. He shall be remembered dearly. He moulded many young architects. He taught me importance of research in urban building. World has lost a wonderful human being and a teacher. Strength to his family and friends.
Bijal Parikh
So very sad to hear of his passing. My thoughts and wishes go to his family and friends at this very difficult time. We have lost a good one.
Teresa Brown
I remember Mark very well from the very beginning of my education in 1st year at the Mac -sad loss -very nice guy
Alan Brooke
He will be much missed
Catherine Mooney
He absolutely did have a passion for, and an encyclopaedic knowledge of, the subject of architecture, and he was undoubtedly a very good teacher too. I respected him. And he certainly taught me a lot; no doubt about it.
Kevin Cooper This is very sad news. As my tutor in fourth year at the GSA’s Mackintosh School of Architecture, I knew Mark as a great Educator and I was lucky enough to spend a summer working with him on an Alexander ‘Greek’ Thompson villa conversion in Aidrie. I can hardly believe this sad news. Mark had a remarkable career at the GSA and to be a part of such a great Educational establishment for almost 50 years is incredible! I may not have been in touch with him for some time but he had an indelible influence on the way I approach Architecture. I was speaking about him to a friend only days ago. He will be sorely missed and my condolences and thoughts go to Linda and his daughters.
Charles Collett, Director Hopkins Architects
So sorry to hear this. Mark Baines was a Tutor who has had a great impact on student development. My fourth year at the Mac and having Mark Baines as a tutor was by far one of my most enjoyable years of architectural studies. He has had a very calm approach, which is rare. I am sure the team at the Mac will feel this loss greatly.
Anna Saroukhanova, Director at Heckmann Design Ltd
Extremely sad to hear this.
GSA and Glasgow will really miss his knowledge.
Karan Darda
That’s very sad to know. he was my guide, great inspiration and mentor.
Ramachandran Sabrish
My teacher, Mark Baines, is the brightest star in the dark that lead me to look up into the sky, give me guidance and confidence on the pathway when I’m exploring architectural world. It’s my honour to be your student and have your wisdom words in the time. Thank you Mark, Rest In Peace.
Zhoujie Chen
I had a great deal of respect for Mark. He gave me a lot of confidence during my second year at the Mack. I also remember his fantastic history lectures.
Anthony Carlile
I am really heartbroken to hear this. May he rest in peace. He was a great tutor and it is sad that the future generations will not get a chance to be mentored by him.
Nayana Sevella (M.Arch – Batch 2018/2019)
He absolutely did have a passion for, and an encyclopaedic knowledge of, the subject of architecture, and he was undoubtedly a very good teacher too. I respected him. And he certainly taught me a lot; no doubt about it.
Kevin Cooper (architecture – 1983–1990)