Glasgow School of Art - RIP

Derek W

Derek W

Derek W

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Was slightly surprised that there wasn't a topic about this yesterday / Friday after it happened as its a fairly important building in UK / Scottish Architecture.

Although the fire services managed to save 90% of the structure of the building and protected 70% of the contents the Mackintosh Library was destroyed :(

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-27556659

Although i never studied at the School of Art I did go round it a couple of times, first when i was applying for University places and secondly while i was at Uni we had a tour of Glasgow's Architecture, both historic and modern.

Tragic loss to the Art / Architecture world. Not to mention the loss of work for the students who were about to hold their degree show :eek:

Seeing as its in GD I'll link to the Daily Mail as well :D

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...an-art-school-started-projector-exploded.html

Grand: The Glasgow School of Art in the centre of the city has dominated the skyline for almost 200 years
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The Building was completed in 1909! :p

Some top notch comments as usual from the mail readers!
 
Quote:
Grand: The Glasgow School of Art in the centre of the city has dominated the skyline for almost 200 years


The Building was completed in 1909!
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I can see how that happened.

1909 is "early" 20th century! (IE, just out of the 19th)

We are now in the 21st century!

The 21st century is 200 years after the 19th! LOL :D :D
 
The actual building sounds like its going to be ok. The library by all accounts from students I know from there was totally unique and the material pretty rare so that's a huge loss.
 
Nutella33 said:
The actual building sounds like its going to be ok. The library by all accounts from students I know from there was totally unique and the material pretty rare so that's a huge loss.
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Having been in the library before, yes, it is stunning example of Mackintosh's work and completely irreplaceable.

It can be replicated from the photos but it just wont be the same. :(
 
Lets be honest, these things will happen, we lost Brighton pier almost entirely as well (though it can be restored).

As long as the conceptual can be saved, the literal means very little, but to a few overzealous people. Thankfully we live in an age that the conceptual is saved multiple times over.
 
Where were the sprinkler systems?

Just like always, no one gives two hoots about fire safety or health and safety until it's to late.

On the other hand, I went passed this building this week when I was up in Glasgow.
 
LeeUK said:
Where were the sprinkler systems?

Just like always, no one gives two hoots about fire safety or health and safety until it's to late.

On the other hand, I went passed this building this week when I was up in Glasgow.
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Aye wondered this.
Suggestion yesterday was a single explosion in a bulb in a projector led to it.
One would think no one nearby had a fire extinguisher, even thought they seem to appear in the corner of every public building now.

bla-bla lessons will be learned.
bla-bla irreplaceable stuff lost.
bla-bla we didn't think to protect it properly.
 
Used to go past this building almost every day, and remember it vividly, my uncle studied there too (and in fact is named in the article :p)

What a waste of a beautiful piece of architecture! :(
 
LeeUK said:
Where were the sprinkler systems?

Just like always, no one gives two hoots about fire safety or health and safety until it's to late.

On the other hand, I went passed this building this week when I was up in Glasgow.
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didn't realise you had full understanding of listed buildings and how a sprinkler system can be installed without disrupting the 'look and character' of the building ;)

Allowances have to be made due to the listing as well as retrospectively applying certain building regulations.

Just seen this on the BBC website

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-27564239

There was a system to be fitted over the summer! :(

The Glasgow School of Art (GSA) said the new system would have enhanced the fire safety measures in place, but did not include sprinklers due to the risk of water damage.
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I also read that the fire spread from the room that the projector was in to the roof in 8 minutes so even if there was a fire extinguisher or system in place would it have necessarily suppressed it sufficiently?
 
was picking up Buccleuch street at 12:30 didn't look that bad then and the fire service were on site at that point :(q
 
Derek W said:
didn't realise you had full understanding of listed buildings and how a sprinkler system can be installed without disrupting the 'look and character' of

There was a system to be fitted over the summer! :(



I also read that the fire spread from the room that the projector was in to the roof in 8 minutes so even if there was a fire extinguisher or system in place would it have necessarily suppressed it sufficiently?
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Yes well the building certainly has a very very nicely LISTED appearance now, its look and character being preserved from the awful complication of water damage.

My original comment may be moot when we find out details, but seemed odd no one could lift a nearby fire extinguisher and put out a small electrical fire in its infancy.
We won't know if this might have been possible, or indeed if the building had such extinguishers, but one should assume it did, as most buildings do.
 
As for if a fire suppression or extinguisher system would have proven effective, I doubt it remains online but the one show did an article on just how effective susch systems are as simple self containment of fires in one area without causing massive water damage to surrounding areas and systems.
It was eye opening.
I believe all new residential flat developments from next year are to have such a system as standard.
 
Really feel sorry for the students who have lost their work.

Also:

The News said:
The fire started in basement when a projector exploded, and ignited an artist's expanding foam
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The News said:
The fire ripped through five floors
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:(

I know it's an old building and all that, but seriously in 2014 we should have fire suppression retrofitted to buildings.
 
i honestly didnt know macs had been around that long... Macs > pc then???!

;)

i hope no one was hurt, also, does anyone else think it could be one of the students whos work was crap?
 
From a personal perspective the loss of the building (or just a part of it) is a tragedy, especially the library as that was such an iconic piece of CRM's work, even more so than the whole building.

When I first heard about it my 'conspiracy theory' head was like last day to submit work, I hope no students been stupid enough to do this.... then found out it was a 'projector exploding' and was like aren't they supposed to be checked regularly...

However I can't help but feel that the Scottish AND UK Government offering to help pay for the repairs, it's not going to be cheap, is taking the p a bit when the country is in such a financial mess. Isn't that what insurance for and it's not like the university doesn't have it as it does.

Why should the government help out the insurance company that's there for the whole purpose of fixing these issues, I'm sure they've been milking the Uni while it's all been ok....waits on insurance company to find loophole to get out of paying....
 
Derek W said:
didn't realise you had full understanding of listed buildings and how a sprinkler system can be installed without disrupting the 'look and character' of the building ;)
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I don't, but I've worked for companies that barely meet legal standards for fire safety e.g testing logs not filled in and been in many places that I could tell couldn't give a toss either. ;)
 
Also if the fire spread from the basement to the top floor in 8 minutes, than that is even more reason to have better fire suppression installed.

Next time it might be people getting burned away not just stuff. It is obvious that fire safety was a low priority at this place.
 
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