Architects who will restore Mackintosh Library will rebuild it with 'heads, not hearts'.

PagePark, based in Glasgow, have been named as the design team who will lead the restoration of the world famous building designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

PagePark, the GSA say, will lead a "successful reconstruction" of the Mackintosh Library, which was gutted by the fire in May last year.

David Page, head of architecture the firm, said they had studied the library, how it was designed and constructed, for three months prior to bidding for the job and now had "all the facts" at hand.

However he said the final look of the library was yet to be decided, and would only be constructed after discussions with the school.

Last week Professor Tom Inns, director of the school, appeared to end a public debate about what should be done with the library, saying it would be reconstructed.

PagePark have what the art school (GSA) describe as an "extensive track record in both restoring and reinvigorating major historic buildings".

They also have experience of working with the legacy of Mackintosh - the practice has worked at his Hillhouse in Helensburgh, the former office of The Herald in what is now called The Lighthouse, and were lead designers of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project at the art school itself from 2007-9.

Mr Page said he was delighted the practice had won the commission and said "you begin a practice so you can get to this stage".

However, he did not commit to completely restoring the library as an identical replica to the original.

He said the library had been constructed in an extraordinary way, "nailed together like a garden fence", and now the practice was "looking forward to the dialogue" with the school over how it could be reconstructed.

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Architects who will restore Mackintosh Library will rebuild it with 'heads, not hearts'.