Watercolours by Steven Holl will be centrepiece of new exhibition
An exhibition curated by Christopher Platt and Mark
Baines of the Mackintosh School of Architecture will illuminate the design
process through which the Reid Building, a striking addition to Glasgow’s
cityscape, came into being. Running in the Mackintosh Building from 8 February – 23 March 2014, the
exhibition will explore the architectural dialogue between these two
significant buildings.
Baines of the Mackintosh School of Architecture will illuminate the design
process through which the Reid Building, a striking addition to Glasgow’s
cityscape, came into being. Running in the Mackintosh Building from 8 February – 23 March 2014, the
exhibition will explore the architectural dialogue between these two
significant buildings.
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| Image: a watercolour of the Circuit of Connection, one of the signature features of the Reid Building |
The Reid Building, designed by Steven Holl
Architects (NY) and JM Architects (Glasgow), sits opposite Mackintosh’s
masterpiece. Distanced in time – by a little over one hundred tumultuous years,
and space – the mere width of a street, Mackintosh and Holl architecturally
engage on the slopes of Garnethill. The buildings occupy similar terrain,
particularly in their architects’ respective preoccupations with light,
construction technique and spatial disposition, which so emphatically informs
the day-to-day experience of both buildings, old and new alike.
Architects (NY) and JM Architects (Glasgow), sits opposite Mackintosh’s
masterpiece. Distanced in time – by a little over one hundred tumultuous years,
and space – the mere width of a street, Mackintosh and Holl architecturally
engage on the slopes of Garnethill. The buildings occupy similar terrain,
particularly in their architects’ respective preoccupations with light,
construction technique and spatial disposition, which so emphatically informs
the day-to-day experience of both buildings, old and new alike.
At the heart of this new exhibition in the
Mackintosh Museum will be prints of the watercolour paintings created by
architect Steven Holl as the design of the Reid Building evolved. Holl uses
watercolour sketches to investigate and visualise the architectural form,
appearance and the spatial qualities of the interiors, particularly the sources
and the interplay of light which are a central feature of the Reid Building, as
they are for the world famous Mackintosh Building opposite which it is sited.
Mackintosh Museum will be prints of the watercolour paintings created by
architect Steven Holl as the design of the Reid Building evolved. Holl uses
watercolour sketches to investigate and visualise the architectural form,
appearance and the spatial qualities of the interiors, particularly the sources
and the interplay of light which are a central feature of the Reid Building, as
they are for the world famous Mackintosh Building opposite which it is sited.
“Like Mackintosh before him, Steven Holl exploits the expressive
luminosity of watercolour through a number of small sketchbooks,”
says Mark Baines. “However, unlike
Mackintosh’s gentle geometric precision in his recording of flowers, interiors
and landscapes, Holl’s is a more liberal, though highly considered, use of
watercolour, which is freer and obviously quick in evocatively capturing the
intended essence of space and form.”
luminosity of watercolour through a number of small sketchbooks,”
says Mark Baines. “However, unlike
Mackintosh’s gentle geometric precision in his recording of flowers, interiors
and landscapes, Holl’s is a more liberal, though highly considered, use of
watercolour, which is freer and obviously quick in evocatively capturing the
intended essence of space and form.”
The development of signature features in the Reid
Building – the driven voids of light,
which bring natural light flooding through the depth of the building and
provide direct connectivity with the outside world through the changing
intensity and colour of the sky, and the circuit
of connection – stepped ramps linking all major spaces that encourage
“creative abrasion” across and between departments – is depicted along with
sections of the building and studio spaces.
Building – the driven voids of light,
which bring natural light flooding through the depth of the building and
provide direct connectivity with the outside world through the changing
intensity and colour of the sky, and the circuit
of connection – stepped ramps linking all major spaces that encourage
“creative abrasion” across and between departments – is depicted along with
sections of the building and studio spaces.
“We hope that the exhibition will provoke thought and invite insights
into the inevitable comparisons and contrasts between the pairing of these two
significant works of architecture,” says Baines. “Visitors to the exhibition will be able to experience the Mackintosh
in Holl and perhaps the nascent Holl in Mackintosh.”
into the inevitable comparisons and contrasts between the pairing of these two
significant works of architecture,” says Baines. “Visitors to the exhibition will be able to experience the Mackintosh
in Holl and perhaps the nascent Holl in Mackintosh.”
Ends
2 December 2013
Listing
8 February – 23 March 2014
Mackintosh Museum, The Glasgow School of Art
Open Daily (Mondays – Fridays: 11am – 5pm, Sundays:
11am – 4pm)
11am – 4pm)
Drawing on Holl
An exhibition, curated by Christopher Platt and
Mark Baines of the Mackintosh School of Architecture, illuminating the design
process through which the new Reid Building at the GSA came into being.
Features prints of Steven Holl’s watercolours of the building design.
Mark Baines of the Mackintosh School of Architecture, illuminating the design
process through which the new Reid Building at the GSA came into being.
Features prints of Steven Holl’s watercolours of the building design.
Free Entry
Notes
for Editors
for Editors
·
The Reid Building, named after the former director
of the GSA, Seona Reid, who stepped down in the summer of 2013, will
accommodate Design School studios, specialist workshops, an auditorium,
refectory, exhibition spaces, a new visitor centre – The Window on Mackintosh –
and the refurbished Students’ Union. The Reid Building is Phase 1 of the
Garnethill campus development. It replaces parts of the Estate that were no
longer fit for purpose. A £50m project, it has been supported by the Scottish
Funding Council. The Reid Building will be opened officially at an event in
early April 2014.
The Reid Building, named after the former director
of the GSA, Seona Reid, who stepped down in the summer of 2013, will
accommodate Design School studios, specialist workshops, an auditorium,
refectory, exhibition spaces, a new visitor centre – The Window on Mackintosh –
and the refurbished Students’ Union. The Reid Building is Phase 1 of the
Garnethill campus development. It replaces parts of the Estate that were no
longer fit for purpose. A £50m project, it has been supported by the Scottish
Funding Council. The Reid Building will be opened officially at an event in
early April 2014.
·
Drawing
on Holl is one of a number of events, initiated by the
publication of ‘Uneasy Balance’ by Christopher Platt and Brian Carter. These
events variously explore the conceptual birth and design development of this
major architectural addition to the city.
Drawing
on Holl is one of a number of events, initiated by the
publication of ‘Uneasy Balance’ by Christopher Platt and Brian Carter. These
events variously explore the conceptual birth and design development of this
major architectural addition to the city.