GLASGOW SCHOOL OF ART
Glasgow2011
Glasgow School of Art
Glasgow
International Competition Finalist: 2009
Partner in Charge / Design Principal: Robin Lee
Shortlisted in the international competition for the design of a new school of art opposite the iconic Glasgow School of art by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, a unique collaboration was proposed with a group of internationally acclaimed artists from The Modern Institute including Turner Prize winners Martin Boyce, Simon Starling and Richard Wright. The team was led by Robin Lee who initiated a series of discussions with the artists to explore the potential of a school of art for the 21st century and to propose spatial qualities and arrangements to support creative processes.
A school for sculptures, architects, designers should question its own existence – it should be discursive as a building – a school
that interrogates its own form - that asks questions of itself, that says “think with me about how I work”. Of course that’s what
all good buildings do but it should be a proactive part of any art school building. Imagine a building that told the story of its
own inception.
Simon Starling
A single sculptural and urban move was proposed to displace a volume from the hill, making opportunity for the creation of distinct environments for the school to occupy; one in the ground and one above the ground. And space in between for the city to enter. At ground level an urban ‘room’ with dramatic perspective on the city serves as an open, sheltered public forum that provides continuous public space that encourages interaction by all with the selective placing of the shared programme such as refectory and exhibition space as well as principle access points to auditorium, studios and workshops. This ‘room in the city’ serves to enhance the engagement between the school and the cultural and social life of the city.
© Robin Lee Architecture 2012
NORD LLP conjunction John McAslan & Partners reached the final shortlist in the international design competition for Glasgow School of Art in September 2009
NORD LLP was established in 2002
NORD LLP renamed to Robin Lee Architecture in 2011