Last May, Charles Rennie Mackintosh's masterpiece building for the Glasgow School Of Art partially burned. While much of the building was spared, probably the most celebrated aspect of the building's interior was destroyed. Here are before and after pictures of the magnificent library. Also destroyed was the main exhibition space, including the Mackintosh furniture gallery. Nine months later, some progress..... Much of the interior and furnishing were lost but firefighters were able to save some 20 pieces of priceless furniture, most of the clock system, and 2 of Margaret Macdonald's embroidered panels. These have gone on display in the new Reid building across the street and some tours have resumed. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/charles-rennie-mackintosh-furniture-survived-5051760 While not much work has been done toward visible restoration, the list of potential architects for the project has been trimmed to five. It is hoped that a contract can be awarded by the end of the month. It is not clear to what level restoration will be undertaken but the building and furnishings are extremely well documented and the goal is restoration to the extent feasible. http://www.theguardian.com/artandde...tect-restore-mackintosh-masterpiece-shortlist http://www.dezeen.com/2015/01/08/fi...-to-restore-mackintosh-glasgow-school-of-art/
Thank you -- I hadn't heard about this. I remember when the Art Institute of Chicago had an exhibit about him some years ago.
I first learned about Charles Rennie Macintosh from a mystery book - looked him up and was amazed! So when this happened, I was heartbroken.
I had been curious about this since it happened since Mackintosh is one of my favorites. Seems that not a lot newsworthy happened until the beginning of this year. With the opening of the new building across the street and the architectural search narrowing, there was finally some news. I really was not aware of the scope of the damage until now and am glad because I would have been more sick about it than I am. There is, at least, some hope now. One of the articles I read went in to the salvage archaeology undertaken immediately after the fire once the building was stabilized. Some books and damaged lighting fixtures were salvaged but not a whole lot else. However, bit and pieces have given them a new understanding of the methods and finishes Mackintosh used that they would not have been able to garner otherwise. Likewise, they now have a new understanding of the structure itself. There has already been one seminar on historical restoration after a fire that has come from this. The plan is for the process to be a learning and teaching opportunity with impact for future such events. Hopefully, this will become a model for how restoration can be done correctly. It gratifies me that nothing short of restoration has been considered for the building. I do want to make one correction to my first post. Apparently, the museum and furniture gallery were not engulfed by the fire. This explains how they were able to save as much furniture as they did. Of course, all the furniture from the library and apparently some held in storage was lost. The fire apparently started when a student was applying expanding foam from an aerosol canister for an art project. The canister gasses ignited by a spark from a projector also being used with the project. It started in the basement but rapidly spread through gaps in the walls and ceilings. Ironically, a new fire suppression system was in the late stages of installation but was not yet operational. http://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/nov/26/glasgow-school-of-art-fire-foam-canister-report