Glasgow School of Art Research Week, GSA news, Rennie Mackintosh, Reid Building

Glasgow School of Art Events

GSA Events: Rennie Mackintosh Building – Architecture in Scotland

2 May 2016

‘Back to the City’ Conference at the GSA

Glasgow School of Art

5-6 May 2016

Glasgow School of Art Conference

On 12 May 1976, Secretary of State for Scotland Bruce Millan announced the cancellation of the plans to expand the village of Stonehouse outside Glasgow into a new town with 40,000 inhabitants, and the redirection of the corresponding funds to the Glasgow Eastern Area Renewal (GEAR). After three decades, the era of new towns outside British cities was finally drawing to an end, and policy was increasingly focusing on the inner cities as a place of residence.

The Glasgow experience was by no means unique. Although suburbanization was continuing, from the 1970s onwards national and municipal policies in many European countries increasingly promoted living in the inner city. The International Building Exhibition, or IBA, in West Berlin (1979-1987), the regeneration of Rotterdam’s nineteenth-century neighbourhoods (begun 1973), the redevelopments of the London Docklands (begun 1981), Amsterdam Eastern Harbour (begun 1988) and Copenhagen South Harbour (begun 1995) as well as numerous infills and industrial redevelopments in the inner cities of Barcelona, Hamburg, Vienna or Gothenburg evidence the increasing emphasis on housing in the inner cities.

Our conference will, on the one hand, examine the architectural outcomes of the “return to the inner city” – that is, the numerous variations of dense, multi-storey “New Tenement” architecture. On the other hand, it will look at the conditions that generated this architecture – the political and socio-economic background as well as the different ways in which living in the inner city was conceptualized.

The Back to the City conference, spread over two days and featuring international speakers from academia and practice, will reflect on this shift, and the strategies of renewal undertaken.

Sjoerd Soeters, the designer of the famous Java Island/Eastern Harbour development in Amsterdam (1991-2000) and Sluseholmen development in Copenhagen (2005-9), will give the keynote on 5 May.

We will also be joined by Piers Gough of CZWG, the master planner of Glasgow’s New Gorbals (1992-2000), Theodor Winters of STERN Berlin, an important actor in the International Building Exhibit (IBA) 1987, Kathleen James-Chakraborty, an architectural historian at the University College Dublin, and many other international speakers.

The conference is organised by Florian Urban, Ambrose Gillick, and Miles Glendinning (University of Edinburgh) and is part of Leverhulme-funded two-year research project The New Tenement, led by Florian Urban.

The conference is free to attend, and refreshments will be provided. If people are interested in attending, they should email Ambrose Gillick ([email protected]) to book a spot.

backtothecityconference2016.wordpress.com

25 Mar 2016

Glasgow School of Art Research Week Events

GSA unveils Research Week events including The Mackintosh Library: Reflection, Recovery, Restoration, and Research

• Public also get rare chance to see the recently released 3d visualisations of “the Mack” on the mammoth screen in Lab 1 at the DDS

• Two leading international voices on urbanism (Brian Evans, GSA and Jim Stockard, Harvard) engage in the social housing debate

• MEARU unveils latest initiative to help to improve understanding of the need to ventilate particularly in new-build housing.

The Glasgow School of Art has unveiled a week of events giving the public the opportunity to learn more about the wide-ranging research undertaken at the internationally renowned art school. Research Week will run from Monday 18 – Friday 22 April 2016 with free events each day and ongoing exhibitions in The Art Club and Reid Building.

“Research has always been at the heart of The Glasgow School of Art,” says Professor Ken Neil, Head of Research at the GSA, “indeed we have the largest community of Art and Design researchers in Scotland and one of the largest in the UK. However, much of the work happens behind the scenes.”

“Through Research Week we are throwing open the doors to the public and inviting them to come along and learn more about our wide ranging-work from design innovation to medical visualisation, urban development and the role of landscape in Fine Art.”

The week begins with a presentation on the work being undertaken in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland by the GSA’s Institute of Design Innovation (6pm on Monday 18 April). The following afternoon (4pm – 6pm) Professor or Urbanism, Brian Evans, will join with Visiting Fulbright Fellow, Jim Stockard, to address the hot topic of social housing. Professor Evans has recently presented a major report to the UN Commission for Europe ahead of Habitat 3. Jim Stockard is an expert in affordable housing and community development currently based at Harvard.

On Wednesday the GSA’s Digital Design Studio at The Hub (Pacific Quay) throws open its doors to the public with two introductions to its ground-breaking 3d visualisation work including the astonishing Head and Neck anatomy, heritage visualisation – such as the work undertaken on the Mackintosh Building – and haptics. The sessions run from 12 – 1pm and 2 – 3pm. Meanwhile, on the Garenthill campus Exhibitions Director, Jenny Brownrigg, will give a gallery talk on the two GSA exhibitions at The Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art 2016 (Light Becomes Silence’, Christina McBride, and ‘Hold Fast, Stand Sure, I scream a revolution’, Serena Korda). The Centre fro Advanced Textiles will also be holding open session from 2.30pm – 3.30pm.

On Wednesday Evening there will be a special session looking at the GSA’s research aligned to the restoration of the Mackintosh Building. The Mackintosh Library: Reflection, Recovery, Restoration, and Research will be led by Professor Christopher Platt, Head of the Mackintosh School of Architecture at the GSA; Dr Robyne Calvert, Mackintosh Research Fellow; and Liz Davidson and Sarah McKinnon who are leading the restoration project for the GSA.

On Thursday there will be a further tour / presentation in the Centre for Advanced Textiles (2pm – 2.30pm), and Nicky Bird and Michael Mersinis, artists from the Reading Landscape group, discuss the role of landscape as they present some of their latest work (3pm – 4pm)

The week ends on Friday 22 April (11am – 12.30pm) with the unveiling in the GFT of a film made by the Mackintosh Environmental Architecture Research Unit and a discussion of their research work on ventilation and how to improve the environment, particularly in new build houses, to ensure better health.

Also as part of Research Week Professor Alastair Macdonald, Head of the Design in Age, Health and Care Research Unit at the GSA, will be presenting the findings of Vision On – a design research project into the visualisation of pathogens –to NHS Lanarkshire at Hairmyres Hospital. (This is a closed session).

Throughout the week there will be a PhD Student Poster Exhibition in the Glasgow Art Club Supper Room and Christina McBride’s Light Becomes Silence will be on show in the Reid Building as part of GI

All events are free but must be booked in advance. Links to the Eventbrite booking system for each event below:

Glasgow School of Art Research Week Events List

Research at the GSA
The 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) evidenced that The Glasgow School of Art is home to the largest community of Art and Design researchers in Scotland, and the sixth largest of 84 in the UK. REF2014 also judged that our community of practitioners, historians and theorists is supported by a wholly excellent research environment, one which is ranked in the top quartile for UK Art and Design.

As well as having critical mass for our research, we have quality in depth – our ‘research power’: the Times Higher ranks GSA as first in Scotland for research power in Art and Design, and sixth in the UK. Overall, 61% of our research is 4*/3*, world-leading/internationally excellent.

GSA RESEARCH WEEK 2016 – FULL SCHEDULE

BOOKING IS REQUIRED. PLEASE FOLLOW THE LINK TO THE EVENTBRITE LISTING

Monday 18 April 2016

Archipelago 136 – Innovation at the Edge – The team from the Institute of Design Innovation discuss their work with fragile communities. Reid Building 6pm – 7pm.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/archipelago-136-innovation-at-the-edge-tickets-23795902184

Tuesday 19 April 2016

Social Housing is just [a] right – Transatlantic Session – Professor Brian Evans of GSA in conversation with Professor Jim Stockard, Visiting Fulbright Fellow. Reid Building, 4 – 6pm.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/social-housing-is-just-a-right-tickets-24159889881

Wednesday 20 April 2016

Digital Design Studio – Research Talks and Demonstrations – members of the DDS team present their latest work including on Head and Neck anatomy, heritage visualisation and haptics. This is an interactive session with a chance to experience 3D visualisation in the lab. DDS; 12noon – 1pm and 2pm – 3pm.

‘Light Becomes Silence’, Christina McBride, and ‘Hold Fast, Stand Sure, I scream a revolution’, Serena Korda – Gallery talk by Jenny Brownrigg, Head of Exhibitions, Wednesday 20th April; Reid, 1 – 2pm

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gallery-tour-light-becomes-silence-christina-mcbride-and-hold-fast-stand-sure-i-scream-a-revolution-tickets-23820900956

Centre for Advanced Textiles – Presentation and Tours by Alan Shaw and CAT Staff. Reid Building, 2pm – 2.30pm.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/centre-for-advanced-textiles-presentation-and-tour-tickets-23797711596

Mackintosh – Recovery, Restoration and Research – Professor Christopher Platt, Head of the Mackintosh School of Architecture Dr Robin Calvert Polly Christie, Elizabeth Davidson and Sarah MacKinnon. Reid Building, 6pm – 8pm

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-mackintosh-library-reflections-recovery-restoration-and-research-tickets-23821848791

Thursday 21 April 2016
Centre for Advanced Textiles – Presentation and Tours by Alan Shaw and CAT Staff. Reid Building, 2pm – 2.30pm.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/centre-for-advanced-textiles-presentation-and-tour-tickets-23797711596

Reading Landscape – artists from the Reading Landscape group discuss the role of landscape as they present some of their latest work (with Nicky Bird and Michael Mersinis). Reid Building, 3pm – 4pm.

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/reading-landscape-artists-discuss-their-work-tickets-24089203456

Friday 22 April 2016

Ventilate Right – first screening of a new film about ventilation in the home from the team at the Mackintosh Environmental Architecture Unit (MEARU), followed by a panel discussion and Q&A. GFT 11am-12.30pm.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ventilate-right-film-and-panel-discussion-tickets-24087244597

Glasgow School of Art

The Mackintosh Building News

Scaffolding along the north facade of the Mac:

photograph © Adrian Welch, architect

Mackintosh Building Restoration Architects

Glasgow’s Page Park Architects to Restore the Mackintosh Building

photo © Ruth Asher

Glasgow School of Art fire on YouTube

Read more at Glasgow School of Art Fire statement – link to GSA Press page

photograph © Charlie Anderson

photo © Adrian Welch

Glasgow School Of Art Links

Glasgow School of Art Competition

Glasgow School of Art Extension Building

Glasgow School of Art Refurbishment

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Glasgow School Demolitions

Glasgow School Of Art Degree Show Review

Glasgow Mac Architecture Degree Show

Reid Building at Glasgow School Of Art by Steven Holl

Reid Building Glasgow School of Art

Glasgow School Art Book

photo from architect

Glasgow School of Art Proposal on TV

picture : Steven Holl Architects
Glasgow School of Art Extension : Letter from William Curtis

Glasgow School of Art Extension

picture : Steven Holl Architects

Glasgow School of Art Building

Date: 1897-1909
Architect : Rennie Mackintosh

Glasgow Art School is probably the most well known Charles Rennie Mackintosh building and certainly his most well respected. It is still an active School of Art, with a strong reputation.