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Glasgow School of Art must be rebuilt – with no corners cut Glasgow School of Art must be rebuilt – with no corners cut
(7 months later)
These are worrying times for all who care about saving the finest works by one of the world’s greatest architects, Charles Rennie Mackintosh. For 2018, the 150th anniversary of his birth, was meant to be a year of celebration but instead will be remembered as the Scotsman’s annus horribilis, with the future of his two most famous works at great risk.These are worrying times for all who care about saving the finest works by one of the world’s greatest architects, Charles Rennie Mackintosh. For 2018, the 150th anniversary of his birth, was meant to be a year of celebration but instead will be remembered as the Scotsman’s annus horribilis, with the future of his two most famous works at great risk.
First, his celebrated Hill House in Helensburgh, as fine a house as anything produced by Frank Lloyd Wright in America, is closed and about to be covered in a vast tarpaulin. Beneath this, conservators will grapple one last time to find a definitive solution to keep out the driving rain, which has long saturated the exteriors and damaged the precious interiors of this house, designed by Mackintosh for the publisher Walter Blackie in 1902, and now owned by the National Trust for Scotland. However, even more critical is the immediate future of Mackintosh’s masterpiece, the Glasgow School of Art.First, his celebrated Hill House in Helensburgh, as fine a house as anything produced by Frank Lloyd Wright in America, is closed and about to be covered in a vast tarpaulin. Beneath this, conservators will grapple one last time to find a definitive solution to keep out the driving rain, which has long saturated the exteriors and damaged the precious interiors of this house, designed by Mackintosh for the publisher Walter Blackie in 1902, and now owned by the National Trust for Scotland. However, even more critical is the immediate future of Mackintosh’s masterpiece, the Glasgow School of Art.
Completed in 1909, the GSA is a ruin after last month’s devastating, and perhaps avoidable, fire – which tragically occurred just months before the completion of its extensive £35m restoration following a fire in 2014, a disaster that left the school an empty shell. And while Hill House might yet be saved, the GSA’s future remains perilous. For if rumours are to be believed, the school plans to begin dismantling what remains of the beloved building in the days to come. This would be an act of reckless destruction by those charged with its protection and restoration.Completed in 1909, the GSA is a ruin after last month’s devastating, and perhaps avoidable, fire – which tragically occurred just months before the completion of its extensive £35m restoration following a fire in 2014, a disaster that left the school an empty shell. And while Hill House might yet be saved, the GSA’s future remains perilous. For if rumours are to be believed, the school plans to begin dismantling what remains of the beloved building in the days to come. This would be an act of reckless destruction by those charged with its protection and restoration.
Faced with the need to make savings of £90m over the next three years, Liverpool city council has decided to sell the Grade II*-listed Municipal Buildings, having deemed the 150-year-old structure “surplus to requirements”. One bidder wants to turn it into a five-star hotelFaced with the need to make savings of £90m over the next three years, Liverpool city council has decided to sell the Grade II*-listed Municipal Buildings, having deemed the 150-year-old structure “surplus to requirements”. One bidder wants to turn it into a five-star hotel
The council has approved a deal with developer Mastcraft to turn the Grade II-listed building into a 140-bed boutique hotel. The deal is for a 245-year lease but the council will retain the east wing for civic use.The council has approved a deal with developer Mastcraft to turn the Grade II-listed building into a 140-bed boutique hotel. The deal is for a 245-year lease but the council will retain the east wing for civic use.
A plan for the Far East Consortium to redevelop the 1935 Grade II*-listed building, reputed to be the venue where in 1971 Queen played their first ​concert, was approved in October. Despite a petition signed by nearly 7,000 people, the £27m sale is due to be confirmed next month.A plan for the Far East Consortium to redevelop the 1935 Grade II*-listed building, reputed to be the venue where in 1971 Queen played their first ​concert, was approved in October. Despite a petition signed by nearly 7,000 people, the £27m sale is due to be confirmed next month.
The Victorian baths, dating from 1904, have been sold to private-equity firm Castleforge Partners, which says the building will house an art gallery, offices, affordable workspaces, pop-ups, shops, cafés, a health centre and food stalls.The Victorian baths, dating from 1904, have been sold to private-equity firm Castleforge Partners, which says the building will house an art gallery, offices, affordable workspaces, pop-ups, shops, cafés, a health centre and food stalls.
Built in 1891, the Victorian building fell into disrepair and was empty. A group of residents came together to save the institute in 2014 when Kirklees council was selling off publicly owned buildings. It now includes a library, a fully accessible post office, an office for Meltham town council, offices for local firms and start-ups and a school of dance, as well as three large spaces used by community groups.Built in 1891, the Victorian building fell into disrepair and was empty. A group of residents came together to save the institute in 2014 when Kirklees council was selling off publicly owned buildings. It now includes a library, a fully accessible post office, an office for Meltham town council, offices for local firms and start-ups and a school of dance, as well as three large spaces used by community groups.
The oldest Grade II-listed baths still open for public swimming in the UK were set to close in July 2017 but the Edwardian building has remained open as a communit-run venue.The oldest Grade II-listed baths still open for public swimming in the UK were set to close in July 2017 but the Edwardian building has remained open as a communit-run venue.
The 650-foot Victorian pier used to ferry passengers to the opposite bay was left unused and in disrepair for many years. Thanks to local people buying shares for £25 each, £62,000 was raised and the pier was saved in February this year.The 650-foot Victorian pier used to ferry passengers to the opposite bay was left unused and in disrepair for many years. Thanks to local people buying shares for £25 each, £62,000 was raised and the pier was saved in February this year.
Horton Chapel, a Grade II-listed Edwardian chapel built as part of the then new Horton Asylum and designed to accommodate hundreds of patients and staff, stood vacant for many years. In 2016, the Horton Chapel Arts and Heritage Society came together to save it as a not-for-profit art centre.Horton Chapel, a Grade II-listed Edwardian chapel built as part of the then new Horton Asylum and designed to accommodate hundreds of patients and staff, stood vacant for many years. In 2016, the Horton Chapel Arts and Heritage Society came together to save it as a not-for-profit art centre.
The 1930s Grade II-listed swimming pool complex was closed by the council in 2009 but it has since agreed to give community ownership to a group of local residents, the Byrne Avenue Trust.The 1930s Grade II-listed swimming pool complex was closed by the council in 2009 but it has since agreed to give community ownership to a group of local residents, the Byrne Avenue Trust.
As a work of international cultural heritage of the highest order, the question of how best to save what is left deserves the utmost consideration, and cannot be left to the GSA alone. The right way to proceed at this critical juncture must surely be to convene an expert panel to investigate all routes available to save this world-renowned architectural landmark, and for their analysis to inform the route ahead. This technique of calling together experts has been successfully employed elsewhere to save historic monuments, and is recognised as the established method for safeguarding them.As a work of international cultural heritage of the highest order, the question of how best to save what is left deserves the utmost consideration, and cannot be left to the GSA alone. The right way to proceed at this critical juncture must surely be to convene an expert panel to investigate all routes available to save this world-renowned architectural landmark, and for their analysis to inform the route ahead. This technique of calling together experts has been successfully employed elsewhere to save historic monuments, and is recognised as the established method for safeguarding them.
The GSA leadership must be advised not act impulsively, but rather to take the time necessary to consider the most appropriate way forward, informed by expert opinion. Alternative uses for the restored building must also be debated (which may or not include the school of art as occupier), as must a campaign to raise the £100m or so needed to rebuild the school exactly as it was just before the 2014 fire – an endeavour that may take a decade or more. Consideration must also be given to incorporate development proposals for the neighbourhood immediately around the school, much of it severely affected by the fire.The GSA leadership must be advised not act impulsively, but rather to take the time necessary to consider the most appropriate way forward, informed by expert opinion. Alternative uses for the restored building must also be debated (which may or not include the school of art as occupier), as must a campaign to raise the £100m or so needed to rebuild the school exactly as it was just before the 2014 fire – an endeavour that may take a decade or more. Consideration must also be given to incorporate development proposals for the neighbourhood immediately around the school, much of it severely affected by the fire.
The route of proceeding too quickly in an effort to save time and money will inevitably fail, leading to irreversible bad decisions that future generations will regret.The route of proceeding too quickly in an effort to save time and money will inevitably fail, leading to irreversible bad decisions that future generations will regret.
It goes without saying that leading professionals and academics from around the globe, in the fields of architecture, engineering, conservation and the technology of historic buildings, are poised to lend their support to the city of Glasgow and Glasgow School of Art at this critical time.It goes without saying that leading professionals and academics from around the globe, in the fields of architecture, engineering, conservation and the technology of historic buildings, are poised to lend their support to the city of Glasgow and Glasgow School of Art at this critical time.
I do hope the school is listening.I do hope the school is listening.
• John McAslan is a fellow of the Royal Institute of Architects in Scotland• John McAslan is a fellow of the Royal Institute of Architects in Scotland
Glasgow School of ArtGlasgow School of Art
OpinionOpinion
ArchitectureArchitecture
ScotlandScotland
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