Historic Curzon Street Station to Host Hidden Spaces Exhibition

Something very exciting to share with you … here is the press release!

Associated Architects is offering the public a unique opportunity to visit the Grade I listed Curzon Street Station this month, as it opens its doors to play host to an exhibition of Birmingham’s Hidden Spaces. The free exhibition, which is organised by the Birmingham based practice, in association with the Birmingham Post, will run from Saturday 21st to Sunday 29th June 2014 as part of the Royal Institute of British Architects’ (RIBA) national ‘Love Architecture Week’.

The exhibition aims not only to show some of Birmingham’s unique, inspiring and often unusual architecture, but to tell the story of the people who have built, lived and worked in these places. The stunning selection of photography and media will reveal some of the many hidden architectural treasures of the city, which are often behind closed doors, inaccessible to the public. The historic venue, Curzon Street Station, is the oldest railway terminus in the world. Built in the early 1830s, it was the counterpart to the Euston Arch, which was controversially demolished in the 1960s.

The building, which sits opposite Millennium Point, has remained vacant for many years but is now at the heart of the Eastside redevelopment plans, central to the plans for the forthcoming HS2 station. The many fascinating spaces featured in the exhibition range from sprawling, underground Cold-War era tunnels to the grandeur of the Chamberlain Clock Tower at the Council House. In addition to the collection of captivating images, Associated Architects has commissioned a short film that will be showcased at the exhibition that captures a different perspective of the spaces.

To transform the exhibition space, the practice has teamed up with Birmingham City University school of Architecture’s Co.LAB initiative, to design and build the exhibition fit-out. Under Associated Architects’ supervision, the next generation of architectural talent in the city has the opportunity to work with a professional team for the duration of the project and learn essential skills in design and construction.

Based at the Mailbox, Associated Architects has been practicing in the city since 1968, working across many sectors, from education and residential to arts and culture. It is responsible for many of the projects that have shaped the city as it stands today, including Birmingham City University’s new campus at Eastside and Birmingham City Council’s new headquarters at 10 Woodcock Street. The practice is passionate about Birmingham and firmly believes that an understanding of the city’s past is essential to planning for the future. Hosting the exhibition provides the perfect opportunity to showcase the rich heritage of the city.

Steve Townsend, Architect at Associated Architects and curator of the exhibition, said:

“Birmingham’s Hidden Spaces is a celebration of the city’s rich and diverse architectural heritage. It aims to show a different side to the places we may pass every day. Birmingham, like any great city, is full of layers of history and we want to peel them back to show how Birmingham has grown into the modern, vibrant city of today. An inevitability of the modern city is that the demands on its buildings will change and will be adapted or become redundant of their former purpose. Our aim is to capture and document these spaces as they exist today, whether in full use or abandoned, and share them for all to enjoy.”

The exhibition features within a busy programme of activity during the annual Love Architecture festival. The primary aim of the festival is to engage the general public of all ages with architecture and the built environment, to reveal what makes great architecture, old and new. The 10 day festival features a broad range of events alongside the Birmingham’s Hidden Spaces exhibition including behind the scenes tours of some of the city’s well-known buildings, a clay modelling workshop in Oozells Square and a pub trail with Joe Holyoak.

Matthew Dobson, Regional Chair of the RIBA, said:

“This is a great year for the RIBA Love Architecture festival in the city and the wider West Midlands region. Alongside the fantastic Birmingham’s Hidden Spaces exhibition we have events ranging from hands on workshops to private tours, all demonstrating the breadth and creativity of the West Midlands architectural community.”

Entrance to the exhibition is free and doors will be open daily from Saturday 21st to Sunday 29th June 2014 from 10am-3pm. The exhibition is sponsored by Atrivm Lighting, Hollywood Monster, Ibstock, Interface Flooring and Solus Ceramics.

Further information can be found at www.hidden-spaces.co.uk.

Visitors can join the conversation on Twitter @hiddenbrum using the hashtag #hiddenspaces

a bit more info about the Festival and partners:

RIBA Love Architecture Festival The annual Love Architecture festival is a national event organised by the Royal Institute of British Architects. The primary aim of the festival is to engage the general public of all ages with architecture and the built environment, to reveal what makes great architecture, old and new. The 10-day festival features a number of events alongside the Birmingham’s Hidden Spaces exhibition.

Co.LAB is a cross-disciplinary studio practice within the Birmingham School of Architecture at Birmingham City University. The practice focuses on ‘live’ projects, engaging students and staff on a number of research projects to broaden the engagement and scope of architectural design across other creative disciplines. All projects maintain a process of collaborative practice to establish new methodologies and innovation in design.

Project partners include The Birmingham Post, Royal Institute of British Architects, Birmingham Architectural Association, Birmingham City University – Co.LAB Initiative, Library of Birmingham, Millennium Point and Birmingham Conservation Trust.

The exhibition is sponsored by Atrivm Lighting, Hollywood Monster, Ibstock, Interface Flooring and Solus Ceramics. Associated Architects For the latest news and information on all Associated Architects’ projects log on to www.associated-architects.co.uk Formed in 1968, Associated Architects is based in Birmingham with a practice of 57, including 36 architects. In 2013 Associated Architects was awarded with the National BCO award for Best Corporate Workplace for Birmingham City Council’s new headquarters at 10 Woodcock Street. Parkside, The Lighthouse and College Court have all won RIBA awards in 2014.