'The Mackintosh Building - Site, Light and Space' is a six-minute long animated programme exploring the design and phasing of the Glasgow School of Art building by the world-renowned architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
The animation explains how the site that was chosen for the art school became a key factor in the fulfilment of one of its most important design requirements - how light would illuminate its sizable north-facing studio spaces. Using the method of sequential animation, it also shows how the building was built in two phases over a ten year period and how Mackintosh's initial design for the art school changed during this period while he drew on influences from his other building design projects. This change of design is reflected in the very different visual appearance of the East and West façades of the building.
The animation runs in the new 'Window on the Mackintosh' exhibition at the art school located in the Reid Building which opened in the spring of 2014. A selection of stills from this project are shown below.
On 23rd May 2014, just as I was about to complete this project, a fire destroyed a large part of the building including the iconic Mackintosh Library and the work of many art students who were in the process of setting up their degree show exhibits. It was heart-breaking to watch the images of the building alight but grateful that due to the bravery and skill of the Scottish Fire Service, that much was saved. The building is currently undergoing restoration.
How this image was made
Software and tools used: Blender 3D, Internal Render Engine, Photoshop, Adobe After Effects
Notes: A 3D model of the Mackintosh building was developed from Charles Rennie Mackintosh's 1910 plan drawings, alongside modern plans and photographic references. The animation was produced by stylising the rendering with a simple black-and-white outline and a limited colour palette. The objective was to simplify the information to aid visual communication and to complement Mackintosh's drawings, which could be viewed in pull-out drawers beneath the screen, with the animation running on a continuous loop.
Commissioned Work
Artist: Bob Marshall
Client: Glasgow School of Art
April, 2014
Image rights owner:
© Glasgow School of Art
Please seek the permission of the owner to use or display this image elsewhere. More information can be found on my Licensing information page.
3D Model: I receive numerous requests for access to the 3D model files I create for my projects; however, please note that my models cannot be shared or licensed for other use due to contractual agreements with my clients and, in some cases, other stakeholders.
