When the news of the fire broke in May 2014, there was a real sadness in Glasgow. The smoke from the Glasgow School of Art could be seen for miles and people immediately came together to watch and mourn the loss of a building that had such an importance to the city. The building represents the city’s character — its greatest work by its greatest architect — but it also had an international influence that brought in messages of sympathy from artists and architects from around the globe.
As time went on and the damage was assessed, debate began on what should happen next to Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s (1868-1928) masterpiece. Many, including Julian Harrap, who worked with David Chipperfield on Berlin’s Neues Museum restoration, believed that it was a chance for a bold move from the Glasgow School of Art. But with the fabric mostly intact, it was felt that, although the task would be long and painstaking, a faithful restoration was the only real option. A strong reason for this was the sheer amount of information on the building; both the original and modern versions of the building plans existed, along with an extensive collection of photographs and research papers.
