Ravaged by fire, but Art School chiefs say: We will rise like a phoenix from the ashes
Mackintosh plans intact Firef ighters saved so much
THE inferno that engulfed one of Britain’s finest buildings has completely destroyed the world-famous library designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
All that remained yesterday of the exquisitely carved, wood panelled room, 24 hours after the massive fire swept through the Glasgow School of Art, was ‘a 3ft pile of smouldering rubble’.
But last night, as firefighters and structural engineers remained at the scene, it emerged the heroic efforts of the fire service in containing the blaze to the West Wing of the A-listed building had saved many priceless works of art for the nation, including Mackintosh watercolours.
Eyewitnesses described yesterday how firefighters in breathing apparatus stood shoulder to shoulder, forming a human line between the inferno and the unaffected sections of the art school, preventing the blaze spreading. Under instruction from curators, other firefighters went into the building time and again, despite the flames, to remove irreplaceable paintings and furniture by Mackintosh after being shown photographs and told where to find them.
As a result, the Mackintosh Lecture Theatre and the Mackintosh Museum were saved, as were the Mackintosh archive and furniture collection.
A GSA spokeswoman vowed the library would ‘rise like a phoenix from the ashes,’ adding: ‘Mackintosh was an amazing designer but he used ordinary materials. Those materials are still available today and we have his plans for the library and the photographs, so we can rebuild it. It won’t be tomorrow, but we will make it happen.’
‘We are just glad no one was injured. But
the absolutely amazing firefighting is the reason 95 per cent of the exterior and more than 70 per cent of the contents are still here today. We can never thank them enough.’
The blaze is understood to have started in the basement after a projector exploded at about 1pm on Friday, causing sparks to ignite foam being used in an art installation. It broke out as students were making last-minute adjustments to their final-year degree show work.
Witnesses told how Paul Cosgrove, head of sculpture and environmental art, tried to put out the blaze with a
‘We have gained a new
gallery of heroes’
fire extinguisher before it took hold. It is understood the cavities in the walls – modern building methods no longer permit these to be created – acted as a massive chimney, spreading the fire rapidly and driving it upwards towards the library.
Yesterday, an eyewitness described how all that remained of it was ‘a 3ft pile of smouldering rubble’.
Last night, TV presenter Muriel Gray, a former GSA student and chairman of the governors, said: ‘We have lost the iconic and unique Mackintosh Library. This is an enormous blow and we are understandably devastated.
‘But the most amazing, almost miraculous, news is that the majority of the building is still intact. Due to one of the most astonishingly intelligent and professional pieces of strategy by the fire services, they succeeded in protecting the vast majority of the building, apparently by forming a human wall of fire- fighters up the west end of the main staircase and containing the fire.
‘After ensuring no lives were in peril, they displayed an impressive understanding of the precious nature of the building and due to their careful and meticulous handling of each developing situation the damage is considerably less than we dreaded. We have run out of words with which to thank them, but the school has most certainly gained a new gallery of heroes.’
Last night, a major investigation
‘Bruised and battered,
but not destroyed’
into the cause of the fire was under way. The UK and Scottish Governments have pledged to help meet the cost of restoring the building, in Glasgow’s Garnethill area.
Ms Gray added: ‘Our beloved building is bruised and battered, but most certainly not destroyed. We are confident that we can recreate what was lost as faithfully as possible.’ It also emerged yesterday that firefighters had been able to save a large amount of artwork by the final year students.