A Few Glimpses of the Glasgow School of Art

The Glasgow School of Art caught fire around noon local time today. Reports indicate there was substantial damage to major parts of the building and its collections, including the library. Designed by Arts and Crafts icon Charles Rennie Mackintosh at the turn of the 19th century, the building has been a functioning art school until today, which was the last day of the spring term.

I visited in 2007. Here are a few photos. Click any to see them larger.


The building backs onto a pretty steep hill, successfully echoing the look of a Scottish fortress.


The entrance gives glimpses of some of the details: the stone work, the square windows in the doors and side panels, the lettering on the sign.


This somewhat inauspicious stairway -- reminiscent of the concrete fire-safe stairs of the present day -- still managed to evoke the brooding nature of a castle.


Loved these brass push panels on a pair of the interior doors.


Mosaics like this are built into the higher walls of the main entryway.


One of Mackintosh's famous chairs (sometimes seen in science fiction shows and movies, for some reason).


This was the main light in the library. None of my photos of it are great; this is the best one. I'm sure the library is full of irreplaceable documents and books, not to mention its recently renovated interior design.