A statement from The Glasgow School of Art's Muriel Gray paints a somber picture of the aftermath of yesterday's fire: "Bad news first is that we have lost the iconic and unique Mackintosh library. This is an enormous blow and we are understandably devastated."
The fire, which broke out on Friday, May 23 at around 12:30pm, caused an outpouring of grief on social media. Though many speculated as to the fate of the library, the archives, and the building's structural integrity, the report brings confirmation that the archives are "safe."
Gray added, "As for the library, Mackintosh was not famous for working in precious materials. It was his vision that was precious and we are confident that we can recreate what was lost as faithfully as possible."
Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh completed The Glasgow School of Art in 1909. A poll conducted in 2009 by The Royal Institute of British Architects named Mackintosh's project the best British Building of the last 175 years.
News via The Guardian, BBC and The Telegraph
