The Glasgow School of
Art’s Patron, HRH The Duke of Rothesay (The Prince of Wales), visited the
Mackintosh Building, earlier today, Wednesday 24 June 2015. The visit offered
an opportunity for His Royal Highness to see the impact of last year’s fire on
parts of the building and how, due to the heroic efforts of the Scottish Fire
and Rescue Service, the vast majority of it has survived intact. He also heard
about the GSA’s restoration and recovery plans.
Art’s Patron, HRH The Duke of Rothesay (The Prince of Wales), visited the
Mackintosh Building, earlier today, Wednesday 24 June 2015. The visit offered
an opportunity for His Royal Highness to see the impact of last year’s fire on
parts of the building and how, due to the heroic efforts of the Scottish Fire
and Rescue Service, the vast majority of it has survived intact. He also heard
about the GSA’s restoration and recovery plans.
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| HRH The Duke of Rothesay with Professor Tom Inns, Director of The Glasgow School of Art |
“We were delighted that HRH the Duke of Rothesay was able to visit us
today,” says Professor Tom Inns, director of The Glasgow School of Art. “His Royal Highness has been hugely supportive of the GSA over the years. This was an
important opportunity for us to show him how the heroic actions of the Scottish
Fire and Rescue Service ensured that Mackintosh’s masterpiece remains
substantively intact.
today,” says Professor Tom Inns, director of The Glasgow School of Art. “His Royal Highness has been hugely supportive of the GSA over the years. This was an
important opportunity for us to show him how the heroic actions of the Scottish
Fire and Rescue Service ensured that Mackintosh’s masterpiece remains
substantively intact.
“We also welcomed the chance to share our plans for the restoration of
the building and the on-going recovery of the institution following the fire.
We know that His Royal Highness is passionate about craft and skills training.
We were therefore particularly pleased to tell him more about how artisans and
crafts people will be as central to the restoration of the Mackintosh Building
as they were when it was originally built.”
the building and the on-going recovery of the institution following the fire.
We know that His Royal Highness is passionate about craft and skills training.
We were therefore particularly pleased to tell him more about how artisans and
crafts people will be as central to the restoration of the Mackintosh Building
as they were when it was originally built.”
Professor Inns and
Chair of the Board of Governors of the GSA, Dr Muriel Gray, accompanied HRH the
Duke of Rothesay on a short tour of parts of the west wing of the building including
the Professors’ studios and iconic library.
Chair of the Board of Governors of the GSA, Dr Muriel Gray, accompanied HRH the
Duke of Rothesay on a short tour of parts of the west wing of the building including
the Professors’ studios and iconic library.
|
| Mackintosh Restoration Senior Project Manager, Liz Davidson, shows HRH The Duke of Rothesay one of the lanterns from the iconic central light that was found in the forensic sift of the library. |
One of the major
initiatives undertaken by the GSA after the fire was a detailed forensic
investigation of the remains of the library. This has provided invaluable
information on the design and construction of the space as well as recovering many
artefacts. In the library His Royal Highness was shown one of the lampshades from
the library’s central light fitting, which were recovered during forensic investigation.
Over 650 metal pieces and a number of pieces of glass from the light fitting survived
the fire intact making it possible for this glorious piece of Mackintosh design
to be put back together and reinstalled in the restored library.
initiatives undertaken by the GSA after the fire was a detailed forensic
investigation of the remains of the library. This has provided invaluable
information on the design and construction of the space as well as recovering many
artefacts. In the library His Royal Highness was shown one of the lampshades from
the library’s central light fitting, which were recovered during forensic investigation.
Over 650 metal pieces and a number of pieces of glass from the light fitting survived
the fire intact making it possible for this glorious piece of Mackintosh design
to be put back together and reinstalled in the restored library.
|
| HRH The Duke of Rothesay with David Page in the Mackintosh Library |
In the library His
Royal Highness also met David Page of Page Park, the architects practice that
will lead the Mackintosh Building restoration design team. Mr Page explained
more about what the forensic archaeology had revealed in terms of how the
library had been created, and how this will inform Page Park’s approach to restoration
work in this important space.
Royal Highness also met David Page of Page Park, the architects practice that
will lead the Mackintosh Building restoration design team. Mr Page explained
more about what the forensic archaeology had revealed in terms of how the
library had been created, and how this will inform Page Park’s approach to restoration
work in this important space.
During his tour HRH The
Duke of Rothesay also learned more about the 3d visualisation of the building being
created by the GSA’s world-leading Digital Design Studio. This will be a major
resource during the restoration and remain as a rich archive of the work done
to bring the Macintosh Building to its former glory for the students, the city and
Glaswegians whose love of the building was so tangibly seen on the day of the fire.
Duke of Rothesay also learned more about the 3d visualisation of the building being
created by the GSA’s world-leading Digital Design Studio. This will be a major
resource during the restoration and remain as a rich archive of the work done
to bring the Macintosh Building to its former glory for the students, the city and
Glaswegians whose love of the building was so tangibly seen on the day of the fire.
His Royal Highness also
visited the main foyer and Mackintosh Museum and Director’s office all of which
survived the fire entirely intact.
visited the main foyer and Mackintosh Museum and Director’s office all of which
survived the fire entirely intact.
See a full set of photos from the visit:
Ends
Further information on
The Glasgow School of Art:
The Glasgow School of Art:
Lesley Booth
0779 941 4474
Notes for Editors
- Due to the heroic
efforts of The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service the east wing of the Mackintosh
Building survived the fire entirely intact. Although the iconic library was
lost, much of the west wing of the building has also survived the fire but with
smoke and water damage. - Glasgow-based Page
Park architects were appointed as lead architects for the restoration design team
earlier this year. - Work to stabilise and
decontaminate the building is on-going. Major restoration work is not expected
to begin before spring 2016