The Glasgow School of Art Mackintosh Building restoration team were the first users of The Hunterian’s new Collections Study Centre when they went to
study Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s original plans for The Glasgow School of Art
today, 19 September 2016. Access to the original documents is vital for the GSA which is committed to restoring Mackintosh’s masterpiece to his original vision.
study Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s original plans for The Glasgow School of Art
today, 19 September 2016. Access to the original documents is vital for the GSA which is committed to restoring Mackintosh’s masterpiece to his original vision.
GSA’s Senior Project Manager Liz Davidson said: “The GSA’s restoration team is very excited at the prospect of consulting afresh Mackintosh’s original plans and other documents relating to the building. Our aim is to meticulously restore the Mack, and access to the original documentation held at the Hunterian will help increase our understanding and appreciation of Mackintosh’s ground-breaking design.
Dr Robyne Calvert. Mackintosh restoration research fellow added: “The research that has been undertaken by all the consultants in the Restoration Design Team has been meticulous. Although much Mackintosh’s architectural drawings are available online through the fantastic ‘Mackintosh Architecture: Context Meaning and Making’ project, not all are high enough resolution to make out fine annotations the architect made. Further, there are some drawings of furniture and fittings in the collection that the GSA must consult in order to ensure we are accurately reconstructing items that were lost to the fire.”
Full text of the Hunterian press release below.
For further information contact:
Lesley Booth
0779 941 4474
@GSofAMedia
News release from the Hunterian
The team is keen to study Mackintosh’s original
drawings for the GSA library, which was destroyed in a fire in 2014.
Mackintosh’s original plans from The Hunterian collections will provide crucial
detail for the complex restoration project.
drawings for the GSA library, which was destroyed in a fire in 2014.
Mackintosh’s original plans from The Hunterian collections will provide crucial
detail for the complex restoration project.
The Hunterian at the University of Glasgow is home to
the world’s largest single holding of the work of Scottish architect, artist
and designer. The plans will be amongst the first items from The Hunterian to
move to the new state of the art collections study facilities at Kelvin Hall.
the world’s largest single holding of the work of Scottish architect, artist
and designer. The plans will be amongst the first items from The Hunterian to
move to the new state of the art collections study facilities at Kelvin Hall.
A major component of The Hunterian’s Mackintosh
collection is the collection of works on paper, which includes Mackintosh’s
architectural, furniture and interior designs.
collection is the collection of works on paper, which includes Mackintosh’s
architectural, furniture and interior designs.
The Glasgow School of Art Mackintosh Building was
built between 1897 and 1909 and is considered to be Mackintosh’s greatest
architectural masterpiece. PagePark were appointed as Design Team lead by
The Glasgow School of Art which is working with a large number of contractors
and organisations as it restores the world renowned building.
built between 1897 and 1909 and is considered to be Mackintosh’s greatest
architectural masterpiece. PagePark were appointed as Design Team lead by
The Glasgow School of Art which is working with a large number of contractors
and organisations as it restores the world renowned building.
Director of The Hunterian, Professor David Gaimster,
said: “Given the strength of our Mackintosh collection, we are delighted
that colleagues from The Glasgow School of Art will be the first to use our
unique new facilities at Kelvin Hall.
said: “Given the strength of our Mackintosh collection, we are delighted
that colleagues from The Glasgow School of Art will be the first to use our
unique new facilities at Kelvin Hall.
“The Hunterian Collections Study Centre will not
only forge new academic practice and opportunity around our collections but
will also mobilise object-based research, teaching and learning for the wider
educational audience.”
only forge new academic practice and opportunity around our collections but
will also mobilise object-based research, teaching and learning for the wider
educational audience.”
Over one million of the items from The Hunterian
collections are currently being moved to bespoke storage and study facilities
at Kelvin Hall – the newly refurbished Glasgow landmark building transformed by
a partnership between the University of Glasgow, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Life
and the National Library of Scotland.
collections are currently being moved to bespoke storage and study facilities
at Kelvin Hall – the newly refurbished Glasgow landmark building transformed by
a partnership between the University of Glasgow, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Life
and the National Library of Scotland.
GSA’s Senior Project Manager Liz
Davidson said: “The GSA’s restoration team is very excited at the
prospect of consulting afresh Mackintosh’s original plans and
other documents relating to the building. Our aim is to meticulously restore
the Mack, and access to the original documentation held at the Hunterian will
help increase our understanding and appreciation of Mackintosh’s
ground-breaking design.”
Davidson said: “The GSA’s restoration team is very excited at the
prospect of consulting afresh Mackintosh’s original plans and
other documents relating to the building. Our aim is to meticulously restore
the Mack, and access to the original documentation held at the Hunterian will
help increase our understanding and appreciation of Mackintosh’s
ground-breaking design.”
Dr Robyne Calvert. Mackintosh restoration research
fellow added: “The research that has been undertaken by all
the consultants in the Restoration Design Team has been meticulous.
Although much Mackintosh’s architectural drawings are available online through
the fantastic ‘Mackintosh Architecture: Context Meaning and Making’ project,
not all are high enough resolution to make out fine annotations the architect
made. Further, there are some drawings of furniture and fittings in the
collection that the GSA must consult in order to ensure we are
accurately reconstructing items that were lost to the fire.”
fellow added: “The research that has been undertaken by all
the consultants in the Restoration Design Team has been meticulous.
Although much Mackintosh’s architectural drawings are available online through
the fantastic ‘Mackintosh Architecture: Context Meaning and Making’ project,
not all are high enough resolution to make out fine annotations the architect
made. Further, there are some drawings of furniture and fittings in the
collection that the GSA must consult in order to ensure we are
accurately reconstructing items that were lost to the fire.”
As well as the new storage facilities, The Hunterian
Collections Study Centre features research and teaching labs, a conservation
studio, search and seminar rooms and a conference suite.
Collections Study Centre features research and teaching labs, a conservation
studio, search and seminar rooms and a conference suite.
The Hunterian houses an unrivalled collection of the
work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868 – 1928), covering the full range of his
output as architect, designer and artist. His achievements include his
masterpiece the Glasgow School of Art, the villas Windyhill and The Hill House,
Scotland Street School, and a series of city-centre tea room interiors.
work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868 – 1928), covering the full range of his
output as architect, designer and artist. His achievements include his
masterpiece the Glasgow School of Art, the villas Windyhill and The Hill House,
Scotland Street School, and a series of city-centre tea room interiors.
Mackintosh was one of the most sophisticated exponents
of the theory of the room as a work of art, and created distinctive furniture
of great formal sophistication. He was also a gifted painter, producing
exquisite flower paintings, and, late in life, striking landscapes of the South
of France.
of the theory of the room as a work of art, and created distinctive furniture
of great formal sophistication. He was also a gifted painter, producing
exquisite flower paintings, and, late in life, striking landscapes of the South
of France.
The new state of the art facilities at Kelvin Hall
will allow the University of Glasgow to build on its international reputation
for collection based research and teaching, offering much greater access to
collections while forging new academic and educational practice.
will allow the University of Glasgow to build on its international reputation
for collection based research and teaching, offering much greater access to
collections while forging new academic and educational practice.
At Kelvin Hall the University has created research and
teaching labs and state of the art conservation studios alongside search and
seminar rooms, dedicated postgraduate study space, a conference suite and
library. Hunterian staff have new office space within the development. The
Hunterian Museum, Hunterian Art Gallery, Mackintosh House and Zoology Museum
remain open as usual on the main University of Glasgow campus.
teaching labs and state of the art conservation studios alongside search and
seminar rooms, dedicated postgraduate study space, a conference suite and
library. Hunterian staff have new office space within the development. The
Hunterian Museum, Hunterian Art Gallery, Mackintosh House and Zoology Museum
remain open as usual on the main University of Glasgow campus.