The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society has slammed the opening of a new vape shop next to the world-renowned Mackintosh Tearooms on Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street.
The Society said it was “disturbed” by the move which they say would increase the risk to this “architectural gem” by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Yesterday Glasgow street artist Ashley Rawson took to the streets in protest over the move armed with a giant ‘unexploded vape’ he created following the Union Street fire in March this year.
The devastating fire which broke out in an unlicensed vape shop in Union Corner caused the partial collapse of the B-listed five-storey building attached to Scotland’s busiest railway station, Glasgow Central.
Dozens of businesses were severely affected by the fire with several business owners left heartbroken by the loss of their premises, with studios, equipment and years of work destroyed when the blaze engulfed the building.
The city is still recovering from the destruction of the famous Mackintosh Building at the Glasgow School of Art after it suffered two devastating fires in Glasgow, the first on May 23, 2014 and a second catastrophic blaze on June 15, 2008.
Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society Director, Matthew Williams, said: “The city has already suffered the horrific fire at Central Station which is alleged to have started in an unlicensed vape shop, alongside the destruction of the masterpiece Mackintosh Building at Glasgow School of Art. The Mackintosh Tearooms are an architecture and design gem, an important part of Glasgow’s story, and a real boost for tourism in the city. The increased risk of fire posed by a seemingly unlicensed vape shop next door is completely unacceptable.
“Charles Rennie Mackintosh is one of very few artists and architects whose work is instantly recognised around the world. His designs are a source of national pride and artistic inspiration, as recently evidenced at the Commonwealth Games. The Society welcomes the recent support of politicians for the rebuilding of the Glasgow School of Art’s Mackintosh Building. It would be a further cultural tragedy if the Mackintosh Tearooms also went up in flames. Prevention is better than cure, so politicians and officials must act without delay.”
Protesting the move, street artist Ashley Rawson told The Herald: “Following the Union Corner fire, I like the rest of Glasgow felt a sense of mourning and frustration. Lot’s of folks were just flabbergasted at how such a thing could happen and why an unregulated vape shop could be allowed to open next to a building with a largely timber interior.
“I produced ‘Unexploded Vape’ as a reaction to this as I wanted to hint at the threat of many more ‘Unexploded Vape’ shops that might exist across the city. This piece in particular was meant to push for change, challenge regulators and concentrate the minds of those who are tasked with granting shop licenses in our heritage rich city. I thought it might help change things but I was wrong.
“Yesterday on a trip to the emerging ‘Sauchiehall Street Heritage District’ I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw that a vape and electronics shop was preparing to open next to Glasgow’s surviving jewel in the crown of Mackintosh heritage: The Mackintosh Tearooms. The Tearooms are stunning with glass, timber and plaster interiors: the sort that burn easily.
“I retraced my steps this morning but brought the ‘Burnt Heritage Flavour’ vape from my ‘Unexploded Vape’ installation as a protest piece. From destroyed Art Schools and Union Corners to butchered Victorian ironwork on St Vincent Place, there seems to me no end to the lack of care and attention that Glasgow is giving its heritage.
“It’s sad but even when we talk about and create ‘Heritage Districts’, we then allow them to be populated with inappropriate, dangerous shops with tacky plastic signage hoardings. These in no way enhance or reference the heritage approach mentioned by the marketing spiels that adorn Sauchiehall Street’s closed shopfronts. Rules, regulation and actual enforcement are all clearly lacking. Otherwise: why would this happen?
“I’m hoping that by bringing ‘Unexploded Vape’ back out that the Vape Shop can be stopped. Not only that, I’d love to see a ‘heritage shopfronts’ policy enforced on Sauchiehall Street rather than the plastic signage free for all that currently exists.”
The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society is calling on Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government to “take all measures necessary” to prevent the opening of the vape shop.
Chair Michael Dale said: “In this case the landlord also needs to reconsider the lease on this retail unit. Their commercial imperative cannot take precedence over increased risk to this national treasure.
“In addition to the risk to the Mackintosh Tearooms, the opening of yet another vape shop undermines the hard work of the Sauchiehall Street Culture and Heritage District, and The National Trust for Scotland as custodians of the building. Regeneration of the street, still failing to recover from the tragic fires at the Mackintosh Building and ABC music venue, plus the recent closure of the CCA, is supposed to be a priority for the city.”
Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government were contacted for comment.
Photo credit: Ashley Rawson