Mackintosh: Glasgow’s neglected genius - revisited and updated

A month ago today, when the interior of the Glasgow School of Art burned down to the ground on 16 June 2018 (see ANOTHER Major Fire at Rennie Mackintosh's Glasgow School of Art and VIDEO: An Appreciation of Glasgow School of Art), it came in the midst of all sorts of celebrations for the 150th anniversary of Mackintosh's birth.

For example:

• The Willow Tea Room Trust invited a group of guests to preview the restored Willow Tea Rooms Building at 217 Sauchiehall Street following a £10 million restoration - on the 150th anniversary of his birth 7th June 2018
• while two days earlier, the BBC in Scotland had just televised Mackintosh, Glasgow’s Neglected Genius - with Lachlan Goudie - on BBC Two Scotland on Tuesday, 5 June 2018.

The first half of the Mackintosh Building at the Glasgow School of Art
(image from the programme)
....but the third act has still to come....

I watched the programme on iPlayer as I wrote blog posts about the fire - and the first version was an excellent programme.

Following the fire, a decision was made by the BBC to revisit the programme and update it within the context of the fire

‘Mackintosh: Glasgow’s neglected genius has been revisited - including a visit to the burned out shell of the Mackintosh building at the Glasgow School of Art - and filmed the ruins - and then re-edited the programme to take account of the fire.

The film examines Mackintosh's iconic buildings, notably the Glasgow School of Art. Interwoven with his architecture, design and watercolours is the personal story of Mackintosh.

...and so tonight, on BBC4, the revised version is being broadcast this evening at 10pm - and I recommend all Mackintosh fans make a point of watching/recording it. I'll certainly be watching it again.

Take Two - ‘Mackintosh: Glasgow’s neglected genius'

Following last month’s devastating fire we returned to the Glasgow School of Art and filmed the ruins for a re-edited version of ‘Mackintosh: Glasgow’s neglected genius’. Tonight @BBCFOUR 10pm https://t.co/MMxiywHAFj pic.twitter.com/01VOQUz4hP

— Lachlan Goudie (@lachlangoudie) July 16, 2018

Below you can also find out more about:

• Mackintosh 150
• the rebuilding of the Mackintosh Building

Glasgow School of Art will be rebuilt

The good news is that that Mackintosh Building at Glasgow School of Art will be rebuilt.

Model of Glasgow School of Art - Mackintosh Building

Below is essentially a summary of what's being reported elsewhere following the announcement by Tom Inns, the School's Director on Tuesday.

1. “We’re going to rebuild the Mackintosh building." - but part of it is unstable and will be dismantled
2. Building was insured and rebuild costs will be covered by insurers
3. c.50% fixtures and fittings were in storage at time of fire
4. A detailed digital model was developed as part of the work done after the last fire. This now provides an immense amount of data about every aspect of the building and how things were
5. The process of dismantling the building and removing dangerously unstable sections began on Tuesday afternoon
6. Kier Construction has now "concluded its relationship with the art school". Their statement that adequate fire safety strategy was in place has been 'professionally checked" by school
7. An ongoing investigation by the Scottish fire and rescue service will determine what really happened to start the second fire - and why it burned out the entire school.

Articles containing variations on the theme that it will be rebuilt are listed below

The Guardian

• Mackintosh building will be rebuilt, says Glasgow School of Art director
• Glasgow School of Art must be rebuilt – with no corners cut

Dezeen: 

• David Chipperfield joins calls for Glasgow School of Art to be rebuilt
• Glasgow School of Art "will be rebuilt" says school's director

BBC: Glasgow School of Art dismantling to take eight weeks