glasgow school of arts by steven holl architects
image courtesy steven holl architects

american firm steven holl architects together with scottish firm JM architects have
been awarded first prize for the competition to design a new building for the glasgow
school of art.

the building will be built next to charles rennie makintosh's famed building for the school.

the plan for the new glasgow school of art draws upon the push-pull typology of light
that is analogous to the original mackintosh building but moves forward using a new
language. the building is composed of volumes shaped by light and connected by
a ‘circuit of connection’ which encourages the creative contact central to the workings
of the school.

voids of light, in the form of precast concrete, are central to the building section and structural
support. north and south light cuts connect studio sections, and convex light windows project
from the façade.

the main body of the new building is a loose-fitting structure, which envelopes a plan
composed of studio volumes. working with proportions and allowing good levels of light
into the spaces, the plan remains flexible for the future. the building skin is 100% recycled,
fused glass with a solar cavity capable of harvesting heat in winter and cooling in summer.

the program includes work on a masterplan for the garnethill campus as well as 121 000 sq
teaching and research building which is due to open in september 2013.


model of circulation of building



the glasgow art school building designed by charles rennie makintosh