A leading architecture critic believes if it is possible to restore the Glasgow School of Art, it should be supported with an international fund-raising appeal.

Hugh Pearman, who is also editor of the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) Journal, believes that the international architecture community would "come together" to support a restoration.

He said: "Normally I say don't try to create something in replica, it's never the same, and you can never be entirely accurate anyway. What about the marks of age, the wear and tear, the splash of the paint that made it so good.

"You could say, it's gone don't try to replicate it, let's have some international competition of the kind that led to the creation of the school in the first place and insert something fantastic and modern into the shell.

"But right now, I am emotional about it, I feel there should be a full restoration, very slow, very careful, very forensic, taking as long as it takes.

"If necessary there should be an international appeal to raise funds for it. This building is famous around the world. The international architecture community, I think, will come together to help this.

"If there is something we can salvage then I thing we should build on that."

He cited the example of the successful five-year restoration of Windsor Castle following a blaze which caused up to £60 million of damage in November 1992. He said: "If you are going to do a complete authentic restoration, then craft skills are needed, Windsor Castle is what springs to mind here."