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images by Alison McCandlish<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) has welcomed the news that no-one was hurt in the tragic fire that engulfed the Glasgow School of Art, the globally-renowned masterpiece by Scotland\u2019s much-revered architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, and that all governments seem so prepared to ensure that finance will not obstruct the restoration of a \u2018priceless gem\u2019<\/span>.<\/p>\n IHBC Chair Mike Brown said:\u00a0 \u2018We are of course relieved that no-one has been hurt in this tragedy, while the cross-government commitment to fund the work needed to bring this building back to life is particularly good news, especially in these current times when too often the purse rules the place.\u00a0 Recreating the most authentic Mackintosh experience possible here is the best way to show our gratitude to those many involved in the creation and care of this famous Scottish emblem, and will serve as an impressive thanks to the hard-working firemen, staff and students who have done so much to help protect as much as possible of its heritage.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018As the world looks to our heritage sector to advise on how to move forward, we need to plan carefully.\u00a0 Perhaps the best we can do for now is to learn the lessons, disseminate good practice, and advise on how to re-establish in any new work the unique experience that this magnificent and original building generated, sensitively, viably and respectfully\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018We have no doubt that our 2014 Annual School, which takes place next week in Edinburgh, will engage strongly with the implications of the fire, not least as it\u2019s theme, the \u2018Art of conservation\u2019 is such a resonant topic under these current circumstances.\u2019<\/p>\n IHBC President Trefor Thorpe added:\u00a0\u2019Art Nouveau was a passion of mine when I was an architectural student and Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the Glasgow School of Art epitomised all that was marvelous about it for me.\u00a0 I was therefore immensely shocked and saddened to see the events unfolding in Glasgow last week, as I am sure so many of us were.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018I used to have a couple of Mackintosh quotes pinned up in my study, one of which seems particularly apt now…’Let every artist strive to make his flower a beautiful living thing, something that will convince the world that there may be, there are, things more precious more beautiful – more lasting than life itself’.<\/p>\n \u2018Glasgow School of Art was one of those precious things so let us hope that we can resurrect this absolute gem from the ashes’<\/p>\n BBC report<\/a><\/p>\n There are good news reports on the GSA website at<\/span>\u00a0http:\/\/gsapress.blogspot.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n Anyone wishing to offer any kind of support or assistance can do so<\/span> HERE\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Follow on<\/span> Twitter\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0and<\/span> HERE<\/a><\/p>\n The GSA \u2018how to help\u2019 link is on the<\/span> IHBC\u2019s Facebook<\/a> page<\/span><\/p>\n ICON have been using their networks for practical help<\/span> HERE<\/a><\/p>\n See<\/span> HERE<\/a>\u00a0for where they are asking for any offers of practical help or donations<\/span>.<\/p>\n Scottish Fire & Rescue Service<\/span> updates\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n The Guardian<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [slideshow_deploy id=’7730′] images by Alison McCandlish The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) has welcomed the news that no-one was hurt in the tragic fire that engulfed the Glasgow School of Art, the globally-renowned masterpiece by Scotland\u2019s much-revered architect Charles … Continue reading