If it’s gone, it’s gone. Our gut feeling might be to get it back but that really is not possible

— Catherine Croft, director, Twentieth Century Society

If it’s gone, it’s gone. You could rebuild the Mackintosh but it wouldn’t bring back a historic building. You would be getting something else, an interpretation of the Mackintosh experience.

I don’t know you would ever get the atmosphere back, as so much is due to the pattern of use over the years. You can replicate the craftsmanship but would you want to build it exactly the same?

You have to think of the current building regulations and, before you know it, you’ve made lots of little changes which ultimately changes the building.

Everyone is quite shocked at the loss and wants desperately to do the right thing. The gut feeling is to get the building back, but there isn’t yet an acceptance it really isn’t possible.

Once you accept that, you need to think about what is possible and there has to be distance before you get to that stage.

Consideration needs to be given to whether this is the best site for the art school now.

If you are going to rebuild the shell, would it be sensible to make it into an art school or could it be something else – a hotel, a visitor centre for Mackintosh? All options should be considered.

If the interior, for example the library, has been saved then it would be great if that could be recreated but it could be done in a different setting.