Though not a member of the artistic community associated with Glasgow School of Art, like many others I am deeply saddened by the damage it has sustained ("Battle is on to save Mackintosh masterpiece after massive fire", The Herald, May 24).

I would like to make three points in connection with this.

First, Charles Rennie Mackintosh was an architect, not a builder and this was largely not a work by his own hand. His vision is not gone, and we can reproduce much of what has been lost. We can take heart from this.

Secondly, I would like to urge Glasgow School of Art to quickly (for obvious reasons) set up an online facility to enable the public at large to contribute to a restoration fund.

Thirdly, I have always felt it to be a great pity people could walk along Sauchiehall Street and not even notice this magnificent building was there, flanked as it was by some architectural ghastliness on that side. I know the building was not meant to be viewed primarily from rear, but I hope that in planning the restoration some consideration can be given to improving the approach to, and visibility of, this beautiful building.

Pat Monaghan,

Regius Professor of Zoology,

College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences,

University of Glasgow.

Reflecting on the disaster at Glasgow School of Art, I, and I am sure many others, will conclude the school is not only a building housing an educational establishment par excellence, but a creative force, influencing all aspects of existence.

My own experience of the school began over 50 years ago as a schoolboy attending classes on a Saturday morning. Following this, I became a student at the then Glasgow School of Architecture, whose classes were divided between the GSA and the Royal Technical College, now the University of Strathclyde. I can now admit I preferred the heartbeat of the former and found myself spending more time there in my final years of study.

I cannot but stress the inspiration and sense of purpose imparted by the environment of the school, and consider myself to have been fortunate for the experience.

Andrew C Traub,

Lower Cottage, Hunterston Estate,

West Kilbride.

The fire that has severely damaged the Glasgow School of Art Mackintosh Building is a national, indeed, an international tragedy. This is however a test for Scotland. Presumably the building is adequately insured so the cost of restoration or rebuild should not be an issue. Returning the building to its former glory is a national imperative. The outcome must mirror that achieved following the destruction by fire in 1978 of the Grosvenor Hotel on Great Western Road - a rebuild in the original style - and not the outcome of the fire in 1962 that destroyed the world-renowned St Andrew's Concert Halls.

No rebuild happened and Glasgow was without a major concert venue until the International Concert Hall at the top of Buchanan Street was built in the 1980s for Glasgow's year as European City of Culture. While this hall is a huge contributor to the cultural life of the city, my understanding from musical experts is that its acoustics do not compare with what was lost by the failure to rebuild the St Andrew's Halls.

So here we have a test for Scotland. Do we understand our history and heritage and immediately, with government backing if necessary, set out to restore or rebuild the Mackintosh Building?

Des McGhee,

212 Douglas Muir Drive,

Milngavie,

Glasgow.