New book: Thing Explainer

New book: Thing Explainer!




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Glasgow School of Art Mackintosh library model

In May last year the Mackintosh building at the Glasgow School of Art suffered a terrible fire, which I'm sure you know about, and at the time I blogged about the devastating consequences and emotions.  Although much of the building, incredibly, survived, the library was totally destroyed. A few months after the fire, I began to think about how we were hearing about what an incredible space had been lost, but for many people they had never had the chance to see it; in my opinion, a model of it would be the ideal way to show visitors and students what the library had been like.

I approached the GSA, and they agreed, commissioning me to produce a model for use as part of the tour while the Mackintosh building is closed to visitors. The pictures in this post are of the finished model, which I installed last week in the Reid building. It is now part of the GSA tour, taking in the 'Windows on Mackintosh' display, the Mackintosh furniture gallery, and the Reid building (which was opened last year, housing the design departments of the art school).

I proposed the model as I felt it was important for people to see this celebrated space, although I had only been in the library a couple of times, very briefly, during my time at the art school (the Mackintosh library held mainly archives, there is a separate, much larger library which is the main resource space for students). I knew that my first step with making the model was extensive research, however, I didn't expect to learn so much myself from the process. It has really been a privilege getting to see the structure and details of the library in such an intimate way. 

It was amazing to see that the various components of the structure held together so easily, they locked in place without the need for glue (though I did decide a bit of glue was a good idea..!). Many of the structural components (the columns, the beams, the floor) are thin, and don't seem that they would hold any amount of weight, but together they create a strong, balanced structure. There is also a beautiful symmetry to the library, the lines flowing top to bottom, front to back, left to right; the beams on the ceiling as a framework from which the layout is guided. 

I also got to study the details of the space. Each of the decorative panels hanging from the balcony was carved with a different pattern, and I made sure to copy this as accurately as possible. This is one of my favourite parts of the model. As with many details, the light-shades were designed by Mackintosh specifically for the library, and these were an enjoyable challenge. I made them by designing a 2-part flat net, which was acid-etched in brass, which I then folded together. They were only around 15mm tall, yet had to accommodate a LED. Roy Shearer wired up the lights and did a great job getting the lights to illuminate the model, despite the restrictions of the space and scale.

At a later stage, I plan on doing a blog post on the making of the model, as there was lots of interesting and challenging parts, and it's cool to see the model go from being a couple of bits of timber and plastic to the finished thing.

Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy seeing the photos of the finished model (or go and see the actual model!) - I loved making it, its been such a joy. I am so thankful to the art school for sharing my vision for this model (and I think they like it too).

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Apple designer Jony Ive admits he can only draw oblongs

APPLE design guru Sir Jonathan Ive has admitted his iconic designs are based on his inability to draw anything except oblongs.

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Model Library - The Glasgow School of Art unveils specially-commissioned scale model of the Mackintosh Library

                                 

GSA graduate Franki Finch of Finch and Fouracre with her 1:20 scale 
model of the Mackintosh Library.

The Glasgow School of Art unveiled an exquisite scale model of the Mackintosh Library. Commissioned from specialist architectural and exhibition model makers, Finch & Fouracre, the exact 1:20 replica was created by GSA product design graduate, Franki Finch, and will be a focus for part of the GSA’s popular Mackintosh tours.

“There is a huge interest in Mackintosh and his masterpiece, the Glasgow School of Art,” explains Juliet Fellows-Smith Tour Interpretation and Programme Manager. “Unfortunately it is not possible to visit the building currently, but with this beautiful model we will be able to illustrate Mackintosh’s creative genius as demonstrated in the design of the library during our daily guided tours.”

Measuring around 60cm x 60cm x 45cm the model took over three months to create as although a number of different production techniques were used, including laser cutting and acid etching, most of the work was done by hand. A particularly time-consuming aspect of the process was making the tiny specks of colour which decorated the chamfered balustrades on the Mackintosh Library balcony. No one knows for certain if the colours chosen had any particular significance for Mackintosh, but one popular theory is that the colours (white, red, green and blue) represent the four elements of water, earth, fire and air. Meanwhile, each of the decorative panels that hung down from the balcony and were decorated with a different pattern of circles and lines, are rendered in the model by thin layers of acid-etched brass spray-painted to look like wood.

To ensure the greatest accuracy Franki referenced hundreds of photographs of the library and crucially had access to a unique resource. “I was fortunate to be able to reference a very special set of drawings,” she explains.  “Whilst he was at the Mackintosh School of Architecture at the GSA Paul Clarke, who is now based at the University of Ulster, created a comprehensive set of drawings of the Mackintosh Building which include accurate measurements for every single room.  I was able to use his detailed documentation of the library as a key part of my research.”

Sited on a 3ft high plinth, the model is located by the reflection pool in the Reid Building directly opposite the main entrance to the Mackintosh Building. Visitors will be able to see it from today as part of the popular Mackintosh at the GSA tours which are led by the GSA’s award-winning team of guides most of whom are students or graduates of the institution. The tours run from the Window on Mackintosh Visitor Centre in Reid Building 7 days a week all year round.

Ends

Further information:

Lesley Booth

0779 941 4474

press@gsa.ac.uk

Notes For Editors

•  The Mackintosh Model is the latest addition to the Mackintosh Tour following the opening in the Reid Building earlier this year of a recreated Furniture Gallery, which showcases key pieces from the GSA’s Mackintosh collection.
•  Finch and Fouracre also produce ‘build-your-own’ architecture model kits which are bestsellers in the GSA Shop (http://ift.tt/1IYIVia).
•  Paul Clarke is part of the Page\Park led design team for the Mackintosh Building restoration

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How to host a cyclist

I quite often get to the end of a ride and say to myself ‘that’s probably the toughest day I’ve ever had on the bike!’, and then remember all the other times I’ve said that, and briefly try to figure out which day was actually the toughest, and then decide that I don’t really need to […]

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