Authors of Urbanism: The Mack with Dr Robyne Calvert

For the fourth instalment in the Authors of Urbanism event series, we'll be joined by Cultural Historian Dr Robyne Calvert, who'll share insights from her recent book The Mack: Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the Glasgow School of Art (Yale University Press, 2024).

"The most up-to-date account of the Scottish architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s masterwork", Dr Calvert's book takes a deep dive into the Mackintosh Building at the Glasgow School of Art, a monument of international significance in the history of architecture and design.

Her research presents the updated story of 'The Mack', incorporating for the first time the history of the building during the post-Mackintosh era up to the present day, including the May 2014 fire, reconstruction efforts, and the devastating fire of 2018 that destroyed most of the building. Illustrated with historical and archival images, reconstruction photographs, and visualisations using the latest 3D scanning technologies, it presents a comprehensive history of the context and creation of this building. The book updates knowledge of the building gleaned from the reconstruction process, including corrections of well-rehearsed assumptions. It also addresses controversies surrounding the second fire, examining issues around fire management that have received much public scrutiny. Including new and unpublished images, The Mack explores the significance of Mackintosh’s masterwork, its international design importance, and its profound impact on its community of users.