Building on Mackintosh

Today I attended the second symposium "Building on Mackintosh" in the Reid Building of the Glasgow School of Art.

Earlier this month Professor Tom Inns, Director of the GSA, ended any debate over the future of the library, saying it will be rebuilt as Mackintosh intended, albeit with 21st technology included in its facilities.

He said he hoped the west wing of the building, which was most affected by the fire, would be back in use in 2017 and the library re-opened in 2018 - the 150th anniversary of Mackintosh's birth.

The symposium featured contributions from Prof. Tom Inns, Dr. Keith Emerick (Research Associate, (University of York), Liz Davidson (GSA Senior Project Manager, Mackintosh Restoration Project), Ranald MacInnes (Historic Scotland), Brian Park (Page / Park Architects), the lead architects on the restoration project, as well as Luigi Croce, founder of the Venice Architectural Association.

The day also included the first public screening of "A Beautiful Living Thing", a film by Ross Birrell made in the Mackintosh Building in the aftermath of the fire.

"A Beautiful Living Thing" is an amazing poetic lament on the Mackintosh Building in the aftermath of the fire. It was shot inside the burned out library and corridors of “the Mack” in late December 2014 and early January 2015, the film was produced by Jo Crotch, postgraduate programme leader in the Mackintosh School of Architecture at the GSA, and features a recording of specially-composed music performed inside the ruined library by Bill Chandler of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

After lunch there were three breakout sessions:

'Mack to the Future: Reimagining Mackintosh's Library for 21st Century Learners'
'Fabric + Technology'
'Craft for Art's Sake'

Professor Christopher Platt, Head of the Mackintosh School of Architecture at the GSA, said: "The purpose of this event is to help inform the actual restoration project by exploring best 21st century practice.

"It is also an opportunity to share our plans and aspirations with the people of Glasgow whose support since the fire has been incredibly important to the GSA."

The day was chaired by and ended with a keynote address by Rowan Moore, one of the UK’s leading Architecture Critics.

An excellent day that was about integrity and taking Mackintosh's spirit forward.