Partial demolition of Glasgow School of Art ordered within days
June 28 2018
Glasgow City Council has been forced to progress emergency demolition works at Glasgow School of Art a fortnight after a devastating fire, after structural surveys highlighted substantial movement in remaining masonry.
The worst affected sections, principally the south façade, will now be taken down within a matter of days amidst fears of a sudden collapse, with further signs of movement also detected on the east and west gables.
The city's head of building control Raymond Barlow said: "This building has undergone substantial stress in recent days. With each passing day a sudden collapse becomes more likely. It has become urgent that we take down the south façade. As the process begins it will be likely that the other walls will also need to be reduced.
"We do not know what effect this will have on the rest of the building so I have to be clear this site remains dangerous and is becoming more dangerous. It is particularly important that people observe the cordon which remains in place."
18 Comments
#2 Posted by JS on 28 Jun 2018 at 12:42 PM
I give it 15 minutes until Alan Dunlop is back on the news, reiterating his calls for it not to be rebuilt. He'll be rubbing his hands with glee at this news...
#3 Posted by willothewisp on 28 Jun 2018 at 12:53 PM
#1 - I often prefer the views of the 'great unwashed' (whoever they may be, I assume non-architecturally educated?) versus the views of 'experts'.
#4 Posted by Stephen R on 28 Jun 2018 at 13:14 PM
#1 'the great unwashed' offensive and distasteful to say the least!
#5 Posted by Stephen R on 28 Jun 2018 at 13:23 PM
Surely if the BCO isn't sure what impact partial removal will have on the rest of the building then they should do nothing until they do know? this reeks of the usual fire damaged buildings of Glasgow in years gone by...
#6 Posted by Gandalf the Pink on 28 Jun 2018 at 13:39 PM
#4
I think 'And so it goes...' is questioning architects (and the profession) for their pomposity rather than the greater populous for their washing habits.
I would not get too upset about it.
I think 'And so it goes...' is questioning architects (and the profession) for their pomposity rather than the greater populous for their washing habits.
I would not get too upset about it.
#7 Posted by JS on 28 Jun 2018 at 14:02 PM
Sure enough! AJ, sure enough, has gone to Dunlop:
Glasgow-based architect Alan Dunlop said: ‘It was clear to me on visiting the site around the Mac and watching firemen pumping gallons of water from the River Clyde into the destroyed interior that the remaining stone shell would also be in a very damaged state that it could not recover from.
‘It is no surprise to me therefore that this news is breaking. It is what I expected.’
Glasgow-based architect Alan Dunlop said: ‘It was clear to me on visiting the site around the Mac and watching firemen pumping gallons of water from the River Clyde into the destroyed interior that the remaining stone shell would also be in a very damaged state that it could not recover from.
‘It is no surprise to me therefore that this news is breaking. It is what I expected.’
#8 Posted by Cadmonkey on 28 Jun 2018 at 14:32 PM
It sounds as though it has reached a stage where we should just do what they do in Venice.
Let the remaining carcus rot and allow the earth to take it.
Let the remaining carcus rot and allow the earth to take it.
#9 Posted by Mr Boring on 28 Jun 2018 at 18:01 PM
Can Mr Dunlop please hold his counsel. His rash and biased comment can/will sway the public view about the value of rebuilding and before we know it we will have lost our heritage, be that materially original or not.
In the Shinto tradition, let us rebuild this temple to the arts and pass on the knowledge and craft to another generation.
In the Shinto tradition, let us rebuild this temple to the arts and pass on the knowledge and craft to another generation.
#10 Posted by The Great Unwashed on 28 Jun 2018 at 18:36 PM
#1. Actually, we're a bit undecided on a rebuild, but the motion to deem you a twunt was passed unanimously.
#11 Posted by and so it goe's... mother on 28 Jun 2018 at 21:08 PM
My boy would never have a bad word to say about anybody
#6 has it.
#4 & #10 apologies, i hadn't really spelled it out by use of apostrophes. Hope you are both well and recovering fully from your irony bypasses.
#10 Actually, I am fairly decided on a re-build for no other reason than i wouldn't have to suffer Muriel Gray whingeing on the box ever again.
#6 has it.
#4 & #10 apologies, i hadn't really spelled it out by use of apostrophes. Hope you are both well and recovering fully from your irony bypasses.
#10 Actually, I am fairly decided on a re-build for no other reason than i wouldn't have to suffer Muriel Gray whingeing on the box ever again.
#12 Posted by Billy on 28 Jun 2018 at 21:53 PM
Who is Alan Dunlop? And why does his opinion matter? I must have missed something.
#13 Posted by Billy on 28 Jun 2018 at 22:48 PM
Googled it. France does it.Germany does it and so should we. We owe it to Charles Rennie and our city. So let’s get it on with it as soon as possible. So much crap getting thrown up Charles Rennie and Greek Thomson would be appalled. Seems like Glasgow will never see their likes again. Other cities new builds are fabulous. Maybe we have to look further afield for architects.
#14 Posted by voice of common sense on 29 Jun 2018 at 10:40 AM
#13 Billy, a good architecture in a city of smartphone obsessed, buckfast powered, love island maniacs? Do not cast your pearls before swine...
#15 Posted by Billy on 29 Jun 2018 at 10:58 AM
#14. I just infuriates me that people are keen to have it pulled down and not rebuilt ...if this happened to a Gaudi building in Barcelona once, never mind TWICE the citizens of Barcelona would be demanding answers and there would be no question of maybe rebuilding. We still need to know who was in charge of protecting the building that night and why it was left to a member of the public to raise the alarm. Surely these discussions have already taken place?
#16 Posted by JS on 29 Jun 2018 at 11:06 AM
For anyone interested, a petition now online at change.org, UR won't let me post link as the system considers a link as spam, but it's called "Faithfully rebuild the Mackintosh Building." Should be easy to find if you so wish.
#17 Posted by UR on 29 Jun 2018 at 11:08 AM
Here's the link
https://www.change.org/p/faithfully-rebuild-the-mackintosh-building-in-glasgow
https://www.change.org/p/faithfully-rebuild-the-mackintosh-building-in-glasgow
#18 Posted by Robin B’s Discount Store on 29 Jun 2018 at 14:11 PM
Billy, I think it’s pretty clear who was to blame for the lack of 24 security. Utterly appalling that the builder have not been taken to task on this one by the media. Even more outrageous is that they are meant to be refurbishing the golden jubilee and the Burrell collection buildings. This sort of stuff happens when you give a naughty child sweeties I’m afraid.
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- the ultimate leveller.
But what is clear is that in the recent period, the argument for a re-instatement has overwhelmingly held sway by the great unwashed if for no other reason than an innate mistrust of Architects ambitions.
And they're probably right.