The world-famous library designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, which was gutted in the disastrous fire at Glasgow School of Art, is to be rebuilt as he designed it.

Professor Tom Inns, director of the art school (GSA), has ended any debate over the future of the library, saying it will be rebuilt as Mackintosh intended, albeit with 21st technology included in its facilities.

He said he hoped the west wing of the building, which was most affected by the fire, would be back in use in 2017 and the library re-opened in 2018 - the 150th anniversary of Mackintosh's birth.

Professor Inns revealed the full rebuilding of the library as the complete toll of last May's fire was revealed.

There has been public disagreement on what to do with the gutted library. David Mullane, a former director of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society, sparked debate when he said a rebuilt version of the library could be an "embarrassment" and a prime example of "Mockintosh".

The leading Scottish architect Alan Dunlop also said that the space could be used on a more contemporary design rather than building a "replica".

However, Professor Inns said: "We will looking to build it as closely as possible to Mackintosh's design.

"There may be 21st century technology integrated into that design but we are looking for the return of the Mackintosh library."

The results of the archaeological survey of the Mackintosh Building, which was engulfed in a blaze last May, show that the majority of works on paper, including key works by Mackintosh, survived the fire.

However 90 oil paintings and thousands of books were destroyed and many of the contents of a key studio and former furniture gallery were lost.

The fire, which was caused when flammable gases from a canister of expanding foam were set alight by a film projector at a degree show installation, mainly destroyed the library and many of the contents of the studio room above it.

Salvaged from the library were some rare books, parts of a studio clock, its central lights and a silver salver.

The survey of the damage, mainly to the west end of the world-famous building, was analysed by Kirkdale Archaeology over 12 weeks.

Around 90 of the oil paintings on canvas in the School's collections were destroyed.

These included two paintings by Mackintosh, a handful of works by Francis Newbery and one work by Joan Eardley.

Around 8,000 books and journals in the Mackintosh Library were also destroyed.

However, almost 80 per cent of the rare book collection - which is kept in the main library in the Bourdon Building - survived.

A 'priority replacement list' has been established, and around a quarter of that has already been donated.

In the library, some books survived, and part of the library chairs and periodical desk.

Nearly all of the items that were in the studio above the Mackintosh Library, which was historically a bookstore and then the GSA's Furniture Gallery for over 20 years from the 1980s until 2008, were lost in the fire.

This includes much of the collection of oil paintings and 97 pieces of furniture.

Around 60 pieces of furniture, including many of the major items in the collection, have survived.

All items that were in the east wing of the Mackintosh Building, including in the Furniture Gallery, Director's office, Mackintosh Room, Mackintosh Museum and Boardroom survived intact.

The majority of the paper archives and artworks on paper, including over 100 works by Mackintosh were unharmed.

The plaster cast collection has also "substantively survived", although many pieces have suffered some smoke and water damage.

All the casts that could be removed have been, while others still remain inside either because they were in too fragile a condition or too large to move.

The object collections, which include ceramics, small sculptures, examples of silversmithing and jewellery and more, all survived.

The textile collections suffered some water damage.

Professor Inns said: "We are obviously devastated to have lost anything from our Archives and Collections in the fire.

"Fortunately the vast majority of the artefacts survive including all the works on paper by Mackintosh and many of the most important pieces of furniture, some of which are now on display in our new Furniture Gallery."

He added: "There have been some remarkable finds from the forensic archaeology.

"We are still awaiting the final reports from the survey, but we are delighted that the majority of the pieces making up the intricate metal lanterns from the iconic light fitting have been found along with books from the rare book collection which can be conserved to some degree, parts of the studio clock and of the original library chairs and periodicals desk."