November 6 2024

The Department of Culture Media and Sport has been pressed by an MP to address the 'international tragedy' of the Glasgow School of Art and help break the present restoration logjam.

Torcuil Crichton, the newly elected MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, points to essential conservation works at Kisimul Castle on the Isle of Barra and the newly refurbished Lews Castle on Stornoway as examples of best practice. Contrasting these successes with the forlorn state of the Mackintosh Building, after a £35m restoration budgeted after the initial 2014 blaze went up in smoke in 2018, Crichton called for additional support.

Addressing a parliamentary committee Crichton said: "Glasgow is still in trauma over the loss of the Mack, the pall of it hangs over the city and the tang of burnt timbers could still be smelled on Garnethill when I walked up to the Art School last week as the ABC building, also damaged in the fire, is demolished.

"So much of Glasgow's built heritage is in danger of falling to the elements, neglect, lack of funding or malicious demolition.

"Above Sauchiehall Street, wrapped in a white plastic shroud, is the burnt-out corpse of the Mack. The site is sealed like a sarcophagus against the elements. The art school board and engineers, architects and firefighters have done their utmost, the walls are still standing, but there is no sign of a phoenix rising from these ashes."

The restoration has suffered a series of setbacks following the second fire, notably ongoing arbitration over insurance and a flawed procurement process. Calling for a national effort comparable to that of France in the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral, Crichton added: "The Art School is a structure which is integral to Scotland's identity, central to the image of brand Scotland we want to portray and an asset to the UK on the world stage. Glasgow is a cultural lighthouse and a beacon, though much decayed in present days, but its buildings do speak to the world and will again when the Mack is restored."

In response, a government official dashed hopes of direct intervention, despite donating £10m following the initial fire, stressing that heritage is a devolved matter. Instead, officials state that they are 'open and willing' to facilitate applications to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, where Glasgow was selected as one of 11 priority places to receive a share of its £200m heritage place initiative - which includes the Sauchiehall Street cultural quarter. The government would also throw its weight behind applications to the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Architectural Heritage Fund.

Reiach and Hall with Purcell have been appointed by the Glasgow School of Art to prepare a business case by early 2025 for how a faithful reinstatement of the Mackintosh Building can be delivered.

1 Comment

#1 Posted by Spike on 6 Nov 2024 at 18:48 PM

As a frequent visitor and former resident of the city I get really frustrated with the lack of action in preserving many of the fine buildings ; obviously funding is a main issue but I can only think it is the inept political leadership which is the predominant reason for this

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