Terrible to see the fire in the Glasgow School of Art

[Nick Armstrong]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-27541883

Charles Rennie Mackintosh's building looks in serious peril

V good news of course that no one appears to have been injured...

[french frank]

Hugely sad if there's a great deal of irreversible damage. CRM was one of few designers who came up with a style which is so recognisable and so widely influential. It must have been a privilege and inspiration for students working there.

[Flosshilde]

It was a shock to get an email this afternoon alerting me to it. When I last saw the news this afternoon it seemed that the library was heavily damaged - the report said that the windows were destroyed. If that's the case it's not just the fabric - which can be restored - but also the collection, which will have many valuable & virtually irreplaceable items. Also, student were preparing their degree shows, & work will have been lost or damaged. Hopefully examiners will still award degrees based on preparatory work & photographic evidence, but it will be heartbreaking for the students affected.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Hugely sad if there's a great deal of irreversible damage. CRM was one of few designers who came up with a style which is so recognisable and so widely influential. It must have been a privilege and inspiration for students working there.

Terrible news, indeed.

[Flosshilde]

the fire service is quoted on the bbc news that "more than 90% of the structure was viable and they had protected up to 70% of the contents."

[Serial_Apologist]

While I'm sure a wealthy benefactor will be found for a complete restoration, if it's true that the place had no sprinklers, then heads should roll.

[johncorrigan]

Hugely sad if there's a great deal of irreversible damage. CRM was one of few designers who came up with a style which is so recognisable and so widely influential. It must have been a privilege and inspiration for students working there.

My wife who studied at the Art School in the 70s was distraught yesterday at the potential loss of these favourite places - the magnificent Hen Run, the unique Library, the atmosphere of the great place. Also, my son has his degree show in Dundee at the moment and I know how much has been put in by him, so it must be terrible for the students who may have lost their work which they were in their final day of preparing for display.

Mackintosh, unfortunately, has been rather overlooked in his own country in recent years. The wonderful Mackintosh Church at Queens Cross, the Scotland Street School, the deteriorating Hill House in Helensburgh are taken for granted almost as relics of a bygone age rather than as vibrant pieces of world-renowned art. Perhaps this rather sad event will have those who hold purse strings once again realise the importance of CRM and of Visual Art in Scotland, rather than just churn it out for the odd high profile event.

[Stan Drews]

While it's almost certain that the wherewithal will be found to restore the Art School, I wouldn't hold my breath over anything else. I've always been more of a 'Greek' Thomson fan and remain appalled at the neglect his buildings have suffered in the city.

(btw - did you see that there was also a small fire at Duncan of Jordanstone yesterday?)

[johncorrigan]

While it's almost certain that the wherewithal will be found to restore the Art School, I wouldn't hold my breath over anything else. I've always been more of a 'Greek' Thomson fan and remain appalled at the neglect his buildings have suffered in the city.

Some terribly neglected buildings - I used to pass his Caledonia Street Church every day when I worked in a bar in the Gorbals - it's a right sad sight these days, Stan.

http://www.glasgowarchitecture.co.uk/images/jpgs/caledonia_road_church_040.jpg

So stunning on the outside...I suppose the difference with CRM is that the interiors are so wonderful...but as you advise I shall not be holding my breath about them investing in these delights.

(btw - did you see that there was also a small fire at Duncan of Jordanstone yesterday?)

My son said it started in Illustration and they all had to clear the building and just as they were assembling in the carpark he said that the news from Glasgow School of Art started to filter through.

[amateur51]

A terrible fire and sad that so much damage has been done, particularly to the students' exam work too, but hats off to the fire service for ensuring that the fire was brought under control and that the fire damage was limited by their swift action. and as Cali says, no loss of life.

It's about time that the First Minister made a statement about protecting valued heritage buildings of this sort. There's no point indulging in hand-wringing over the smoldering ruins.

Muriel Gray sounded very upset on the radio and rightly so.

[Serial_Apologist]

A terrible fire and sad that so much damage has been done, particularly to the students' exam work too, but hats off to the fire service for ensuring that the fire was brought under control and that the fire damage was limited by their swift action. and as Cali says, no loss of life.

It's about time that the First Minister made a statement about protecting valued heritage buildings of this sort. There's no point indulging in hand-wringing over the smoldering ruins.

Muriel

A few of those were probably damaged too...

[johncorrigan]

Sadly it looks like despite the heroic efforts of the fire service Mackintosh's wonderful library has been destroyed.

[amateur51]

Sadly it looks like despite the heroic efforts of the fire service Mackintosh's wonderful library has been destroyed.

That's very sad news indeed

[Nick Armstrong]

Sadly it looks like despite the heroic efforts of the fire service Mackintosh's wonderful library has been destroyed.

[Flosshilde]

Sadly it looks like despite the heroic efforts of the fire service Mackintosh's wonderful library has been destroyed.

It looks like the west wing (which includes the library) has been gutted. The library collection included past student theses, Mackintosh designs, and books that were in the library from the beginning of the School.