Leading architect condemns 'utterly soulless' plans for Charles Rennie Mackintosh masterpiece
Glasgow School of Art says it cannot risk its financial sustainability as full reinstatement of building estimated to cost £265m
One of Scotland’s most acclaimed architects has condemned the “utterly soulless” plans for the fire-ravaged Mackintosh Building.
The iconic structure, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, was devastated by two fires in 2014 and 2018, but the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) has said it cannot fully restore the masterpiece to its former glory without additional financial support.
Professor Alan Dunlop, a longstanding critic of GSA’s management and their response to the blazes, accused the institution of a “dilution of responsibility,” and expressed doubt that it would be able to secure public financing for its plans.
In a newly published report, the GSA has proposed a catalogue of works to stabilise the A-listed building, remove the scaffolding around it, and install an “internal temporary retention system” and roof. However, even with the use of permanent steelwork in parts of the site, the building will remain unusable.
The GSA had previously voiced its commitment to a faithful reinstatement of the Glasgow landmark, but it now says “financial clarity” provided by an insurance settlement following the 2018 fire has made clear that it “cannot take forward the faithful reinstatement on its own”
It intends for the Mackintosh Building to serve as the anchor for what it described as a “creative and cultural production innovation district” in the heart of the city. It said the “significant enabling project,” funded by the insurance settlement, would provide “a platform for future rebuilding.”
The current cost of full reinstatement has been calculated at around £265 million, the equivalent to five times the GSA’s annual turnover. It said that amount was not affordable and would compromise the financial sustainability of the institution.
It has not disclosed the amount it has received as part of the insurance settlement, but pointed to the rising cost of construction projects as a reason for the “funding gap.”
Ann Priest, chair of the GSA’s board of governors, said: “We very much want to see this exceptional and globally important building rebuilt, but we cannot put the financial sustainability of the GSA at risk in doing so.
“The board believes that the reinstatement of the Mackintosh Building can and should be part of a heritage-led economic regeneration project, building on the existing creative and cultural production assets within this part of the city, to strengthen Glasgow’s creative eco-system and its position as one of the UK’s leading creative economies.”
The school also has plans to create “museum-standard” interpretations of the building to exist alongside its retained architectural elements. These will “help tell the story of this remarkable place and the people who have worked and studied there for years to come”, according to the GSA.
However, Prof Dunlop, who studied architecture at the GSA, criticised the “opaqueness” of the art school’s position, and said it raised many more questions than it answers.
He also condemned the “utterly soulless” images released as part of an architectural and technical report. Insisting that it did not represent a “faithful reinstatement” of Mackintosh’s masterwork.
He said: “What disappoints me most is the statement from the chair of governors saying that the Mackintosh can have a new purpose and become a catalyst for innovation, regeneration and economic growth for Glasgow. This seems to me to be a dilution of responsibility, and worse, a distinct failure to focus on their prime task of delivering a replacement for the Mackintosh building, rather than some centre for creative activity.
“They are looking for partners and will clearly need public money. How much will depend on the settlement from the insurers, which is not stated. However, all public comment since the second fire has centred on the incompetence of the GSA board.
“The chair has now gone but even with new members I doubt very much that has changed, so successfully attracting public investment seems a forlorn hope.”
He added: “It is now clear that Mackintosh’s masterwork is gone forever. So, we retain as much of what’s left as possible, and build a new art school within that framework - one that recognises and respects the genius of Mackintosh and his original masterwork.
“But for that we need an exceptional architect and a proper procurement process, not one like before that emphasises fee over talent and which recognises this is probably the most important commission in Scotland and probably the UK.”
The painter and writer, Lachlan Goudie, also said the possibility of the art school not being restored to its former self was a “national disgrace.”
“This reeks of a lack of transparency, which has been very common over the past eight years,” he told BBC Scotland. “The fact it has taken that long to get to a point where we know nothing much, beyond the GSA don't have enough money to rebuild it, is shameful.
“It is a national disgrace what has happened here. Nothing less than an authentic recreation of what Macintosh left Glasgow and the world will do.”
It comes as another prominent Scottish architect has launched a campaign to fully rebuild the Mackintosh Building.
Malcolm Fraser said he was working to “unite a groundswell of people” to back the full rebuild, and said the failure to do so until now was indicative of a “clear, systemic problem” in how heritage buildings in Scotland were treated.
Describing the building as “our Notre Dame,” he said: “The comparison shames us: France’s most cherished building burnt down one year after our second fire, but is now gloriously rebuilt, while the Mack still stands as four gaunt walls round a sepulchral void.”
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