Fire and flames: the Glasgow School of Art through the years

Fire and flames: the Glasgow School of Art through the years - It’s a story unlike any other. The Glasgow School of Art has been hit with a great fire once again, after the revered school was practically burnt to the ground back in 2014. Following a multi-million reconstruction, things were looking up, and key parts were set to reopen next year. However, disaster struck again, and the school has just suffered its second great fire in four years. Thankfully, there have been no casualties, but the hard work to reopen the school has been undone.

0 / 31 Fotos

Origin story - The school was founded in 1845. It was first known as the Glasgow Government School of Design.

1 / 31 Fotos

Name change - It changed its name to The Glasgow School of Art in 1853.

2 / 31 Fotos

The man with a plan - Plans were drawn up for a new building in 1897, with visionary Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh being chosen as the designer.

3 / 31 Fotos

Slowly but surely - In 1899, construction had finished on the first half of the building. The second half was completed ten years later.

4 / 31 Fotos

On to better things - Plans to expand the school took place in 2009. A competition was held to decide the new architectural design team.

5 / 31 Fotos

Architects from the Big Apple - New York-based Steven Holl Architects (pictured) won the competition. They worked with Glasgow team JM Architects on the school.

6 / 31 Fotos

It begins - On May 23, 2014, a severe fire broke out. The incident happened as students prepared for their Degree Show.

7 / 31 Fotos

Early claims - The fire began in the basement, with eyewitnesses claiming the fire started after a projector exploded.

8 / 31 Fotos

Investigation - However, investigators found that the blaze was caused by “a canister of expanding foam”, which was used next to a hot projector.

9 / 31 Fotos

The fire spreads - The blaze spread up through the building. It was controlled quickly, yet the school still suffered substantial damage in its studios and stairways.

10 / 31 Fotos

No casualties - Luckily there were no casualties as a result of the blaze.

11 / 31 Fotos

Art lives on - Nevertheless, the Mackintosh library was destroyed. The archive of work was damaged by water, however, it was air and freeze dried for preservation.

12 / 31 Fotos

Time to rebuild - After the fire, staff got to work on reconstruction in 2016.

13 / 31 Fotos

The fire returns - Fire broke out again in the Mackintosh building on June 15, 2018.

14 / 31 Fotos

Fighting fire - The fire brigade first received a call at around 11 PM, sending 120 firefighters and 20 fire engines to combat the blaze.

15 / 31 Fotos

All students safe - Again, no casualties were reported.

16 / 31 Fotos

Collateral damage - The fire spread to nearby buildings, such as the Campus nightclub and the O2 ABC music venue.

17 / 31 Fotos

Hefty loss - The revamped Mackintosh library was ready to reopen in 2019. The BBC estimates that the restoration cost around £35,000,000.

18 / 31 Fotos

Hard work undone - All of the previous restoration work was destroyed in the new fire.

19 / 31 Fotos

Stopped in their tracks - According to Peter Heath, the chief officer of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, firefighters didn’t even know where to begin fighting the blaze.

20 / 31 Fotos

The art survives - However, this time around, students weren’t using the building to work on their degree projects.

21 / 31 Fotos

Safe from flames - Instead, the nearby McLellan Galleries was used for the student exhibition.

22 / 31 Fotos

What happened this time? - According to BBC News, the cause of this fire is not yet known.

23 / 31 Fotos

First Minister speaks - Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s First Minister, voiced her support in wake of the blaze. She confirmed that the government were “ready to provide any support”, as reported by BBC News.

24 / 31 Fotos

Who studied at the school? - Many stars from the British arts scene studied at the Glasgow School of Art. Many alumni have been nominated for, or won, the Turner Prize.

25 / 31 Fotos

Revered artists - Cathy Wilkes, Lucy Skaer, Jim Lambie (work pictured) and Ian Hamilton Finlay all studied at the school. They all received Turner Prize nominations for their incredible work.

26 / 31 Fotos

Turner Prize winners - Turner Prize winners include Martin Boyce, Douglas Gordon, Simon Starling and Richard Wright (pictured).

27 / 31 Fotos

Stars on screen - Other school alumni include actors Robbie Coltrane and Peter Capaldi.

28 / 31 Fotos

The architect - Before his involvement in the iconic Mackintosh, the influential architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh also studied at the school.

29 / 31 Fotos

Other designs - Mackintosh’s other famous designs include The Lighthouse (the Glasgow Herald Building) and Queen's Cross Church in Glasgow.

30 / 31 Fotos