Glasgow School of Art, United Kingdom

October 06, 2010 Category: Education

Glasgow School of Art , that located in United Kingdom, was designed by Steven Holl Architects. Steven Holl Architects was appointed last September following an international competition to design a new building for the Art School which would significantly enhance the teaching, learning and research facilities available to GSA students and staff as well as providing access to new publicly accessible spaces, including exhibition galleries and the Windows on the Mack interpretation area for the Mackintosh Building.

Inspired by Mackintosh’s inventive manipulation of his 1909 Art School building’s plan and section to introduce and deploy light in a variety of inspiring and successful ways, the new design complements its neighbour, but moves forward using a new language of light. With well proportioned studio and workshop spaces at the core of teaching, these spaces are arranged in plan and section with natural side and top light for stimulating work environments, supplemented with ‘driven voids of light’ that penetrate the building’s core and deliver natural light through its depth; providing direct connectivity with the outside world through the changing intensity and colour of the sky.

The design provides much needed studios and centralised workshop facilities, the Center for Advanced Textiles, new digital media spaces, a lecture theatre and seminar rooms, exhibition space, a refectory for staff and students and a range of informal learning areas. The interpretation centre for the Mackintosh Building, phase 4 of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project is also on the site.

Located one level below, a 300-seat lecture theatre has direct access to the lobby as well as the centralised workshop and associated assembly spaces. Immediately above the ground floor are the school directorate and administrative offices (on the south) whilst studio space occupies the entire north side at this level and moving up through the building. The new GSA refectory is located on level 2 above the offices, bringing the entire school up and into the building on a daily basis.

Glasgow School of Art Design Architechture Plan