[Closed] Glasgow School of Art

The cynic in me thinks its suspicious to catch fire so close to the re-opening.

Perhaps they simply need to rethink the rebuild of it, and keep the shell and do a new internals.

🙁

Sad news indeed.

From the R4 news sounds like all parts of the building were on fire, not contained to one/two parts but all.

2 tragedies here, the students work and the building itself.

Brutal, they had sourced wood from the states of a similar age to try to rebuild the character. Gutted for the folk that put so much into rebuilding it.

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Perhaps they simply need to rethink the rebuild of it, and keep the shell and do a new internals.

trying a bit too hard to have a pop at the lefty liberal snowflakes there ninfan.

stick to RoW stuff, your good at that.

Surely the rebuild would have had sprinklers? Did they find a cause last time?

First fire was student had put a projecter into an EPS block without adequate ventilation.

Mid be very very surprised if this was a 'convenient' fire. It'll either be from an error by one of contractors or an arson by someone with a grudge.

I'm relieved that there has been no loss of life so far at least. Loss of the building and works within it is a disaster.

Perhaps they simply need to rethink the rebuild of it, and keep the shell and do a new internals.

If anything the internals are more significant than the exterior. I’m not usually too fussed about things like this, but I really hope this building can be saved

I understand from someone involved that they were in the process of applying the highly flammable oiled and shellac finishes to the internal woodwork.

I'm currently looking after a lad doing his A level exams with a place at Glasgow SoA to study Architecture if he gets the grades as his next step. To say he is slightly agitated tis morning is an understatment. I can't imagine how the people who study or work there or have worked for the last four years on the restoration must be feeling.

I think it's time to knock it down by the looks of it. Can't see anyone willing to commit to another restoration project now, too much risk.

It's a real shame and although I understand the significance to "art" of this building much art has been lost throughout the years. Maybe this is the chance to make a significant new building.  After all anyone who tries to recreate the Mona Lisa is not lauded for saving great art.

as former student there, im totally gutted again.

no idea what happens now. it was a fantastic building.

I'm tempted to suggest the insurers' investigators should take a look at the list of students thrown off their courses in the last four years but knowing that the cockup theory is never as attractive as the conspiracy theory I'd say it's actually something stupid somebody did with an oil-soaked rag or an electrical device left switched on.

Many old buildings catch fire or are deliberately torched for whatever reason,something seriously failed in the fire prevention and protection in that building, and the fire  gap between it and the o2 abc theater next door.

Thankfully someone spotted the fire and there where no residents or visitors injured, imagine if the workers where on site, and there was an event at the theatre next door.

One thing is for sure due to the desimation of the fire service it want be the last major building to be lost.

ninfan, you are a *

Actually, I think you’ll find that given the number of ventilation ducts, service voids and flammable materials used in the building, which SFRS says was a major contributor to the spread and severity of the original fire, that it was the architect, Charles Rennie Macintosh, who was the *

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=O8bjOmqIlds

Words fail me, some truly moronic statements on this thread.

Last visited over ten years ago, such a shame about what was lost in the last fire… this one must feel like a real kicking to everyone involved in the restoration, locals, students past, present and future… and it is a further loss for anyone interested in the legacy of Mackintosh (and more worrying, those who might not have an interest, and because of this may now be less likely to discover one).

<p>Ninfan, what are you basing any of that on? The construction area may well have a sprinkler system fitted but it may have been off for whatever reason owing to it being a construction site - be that deregation or human error. The rest of teh building however was still original spec so unless you are seriously proposing that they should have been punching holes around a live work area for sprinkler systems and somehow compartmentalise it without destroying the original character then you are talking pish. That's before we even talk money.</p><p></p><p>That aside, the building is one of the few parts of Glasgows cultural heritage (never mind Scotlands) to have been ravaged by fire and then actually restored. To have it happen once was bad enough but twice is devastating. Tell you what though, if you really think it's just a load of stuff and so long as nobody got hurt it's unimportant, why don't you torch your house and see how you feel afterwards.</p>

Judging by the pictures I don’t think they should rebuild it. It’s almost entirely gone. You’d just end up with an expensive replica.

Oof. Isn't the student work in the 'new' GSoA across the road?

We were discussing this this morning, might be beyond saving now even if there was a will, and a restoration is a thorny issue.

@convert  our daughter is off there this upcoming year to do art and printmaking, not sure she's aware of the news yet - wasn't aware early this morning.. some other son her course to do sculpture, and fashion & fabrics. What a mess!

What a strange little man you are ninfan.

Are you allowed to say that?

if they do rebuild it maybe they can get some comfortable seating in instead of those stupid high backed things - most uncomfortable...

Rebuilding it would be a bit of a triggers broom wouldn't it? What a shame.

Some kind of irony here ...

see that's the difference between arty farty types and scientists, the bower building has managed not burn down again after the 2001 fire rebuild.

I posted earlier but does not appear to have saved. ninfan, your flippant comments and off the cuff demeanour on the anniversary of Grenfell deserve nothing but utter contempt. Don't back track on fire safety now, your original post says all I need to know about your character.

Your post was deleted, I believe.

You’d just end up with an expensive replica.

Fine by me in this case, it’s not like yer man Charles hammered it together himself back in the day

I'm normally uneasy about recreations, but footage I'd seen of the "renovation" work was pretty damn impressive. But I can't see it being undertaken again, looking at how much more extensive the damage is this time.

I don't know what I said that deserves to be deleted. Ninfan has brought some pseudo political agenda to a thread that highlights how it is saddening that the restoration of important architecture has gone up in flames. I will only ask time to explain himself!!

A sad , sad loss to the City. Miracle no reported casualties.

Again personal opinions of Ninfan are not allowed, it was an old building,with many ducts and pipe runs, just so sad for all those skilled trades people who helped to rebuild the place and will now probabaly be unemployed next week.

My heart sank when I read it this morning. I initially thought it was a bad joke.

Mods. Delete my post before previous if  you wish. I am happy to let others posts speak for themselves.

Architecturally, probably one of the most significant buildings in Scotland - I have fond memories of the place as my mother was a post-graduate student there when I was at University and used to pop-in to see her.

I can't believe people are saying it should not be rebuilt - I can only think these people have not actually seen it in reality.  Many people actually LOVE this building.  If there is one building in Scotland that should be saved, no expense spared, it is this one.  It really is (was) a masterpiece, and I would be happy to donate to the cause.

And if there is one that should be knocked down, it is the Scottish Parliament.

Am i the only one who finds it slightly odd that both times it caught fire were on a Friday night?

correct me if I’m wrong of course.

very sad to hear this again.

Without feeding the master troll, some people have a cultural attachment to anything significant in either art or architecture.

If you miss the point that’s fine, you are entitled to your own (have to say minority) opinion.

Thousands of students young and old honed thier craft, gained ingrained inspiration from either attending or visiting that epitome of Art (in its widest sense) and from this day forward the world of Art and Culture will suffer becuse of the decimation of not just a “building” but a cultural social gathering of some of the finest creative people the U.K.

Furthermore there are many students who are either studying there or are about to enter courses there, so it’s not just “some old pictures” it’s peoples lifestyles and careers being put on hold or thrown into delayed confusion.

I wouldn’t expect you to understand those simple pillars of humanity, so please keep spouting you own personal rhetoric.

god there's some unpleasant people on here.

Ninfan

I advise you to do some reading up on the following areas:

- the social implications of architecture

- art history and the importance of art in civilisation

- Scottish building regulations including exemptions for buildings of importance

- what was actually reconstructed at the Mac after the 2014 fire

If you manage to complete the above your next post may not reveal quite as high a level of ignorance as your previous ones have.

I thought persistant trolling was against the rules here on STW yet some are allowed to build their whole persona around it. Yet bizarrely when someone calls them out on it, their posts (and often the poster) disappear under another rule of not making personal insults.

Ahh, I see Ninfan hasn't taken the deleted advice then.