Following on from a previous post about Project Brutal: the project now has a discussion forum, where the people interested in documenting the Central Library can chat.
The forum can be found here.
Photo credit: Martin Hartland
Posts Tagged ‘birmingham central library’
Project Brutal: Update
Tuesday, May 4th, 2010Project Brutal
Thursday, March 25th, 2010
Project Brutal: Initial Meeting
Birmingham Central Library could be considered the Marmite of libraries: you either love it, or you hate it.
Well, here is a project for those who wish to profess their love for that Brutalist structure: Project Brutal. (via Created in Birmingham)
“Project Brutal: Initial Meeting: 20th April 6:30-7:30pm. CiB Shop.
Project Brutal is a plan to bring together people and networks interested in creatively celebrating and capturing Birmingham’s Brutal library before it’s too late. We’re looking to formulate a series of events and projects under the Brutal banner over an extended period of time.
So if you’re passionate about the library’s architecture, space and history and are keen to find out more and get involved in making this a reality then come and join us on April 20th.”
Register for the event at eventbrite, and find out more about the project on their website.
Photos of Birmingham Central Library
Sunday, December 6th, 2009As you may know the 1974 Central Library in Birmingham won’t be listed, which means it is very likely to be demolished. Pete Ashton has created a flickr group to collect photographs of the library before it goes.
Whatever your opinion of the building it looks very likely that it won’t be around for much longer. It got me thinking that while the old Bull Ring didn’t have quite the emotional resonance or architectural importance of the library it was still part of Birmingham’s history. And yet there are very few photos of the Bull Ring around, probably because it was demolished before the era of digital photography and online sharing took off. With the library there’s already a fair wodge of community-made media out there (the photos in this post were taken from a quick survey of Flickr – there’s more in this gallery) but there’s room for more.
To add your images go here.
You can donate to Birmingham Conservation Trust here or please support us by doing your online shopping here.
Birmingham Central Library "granted immunity from listing"
Monday, November 23rd, 2009
Central Library in Birmingham by Rory Munro - click for original.
The government has announced that the John Madin designed Birmingham Central Library will not be listed – which means that the building can now be demolished as part of Birmingham’s Big City Plan.
English Heritage has expressed disappointment after advising the government to grant the building Grade 2 status, saying this morning:
English Heritage believes that the Library is worthy of Grade ll listed protection. Listing identifies whether a building is nationally important and not whether it must be kept. It is not a preservation order, simply a mark of special interest. Listed buildings can still be demolished once the case has been made and all other options have been explored. We have been working with the City Council throughout, and maintain an open dialogue with them.
In offering the Government our expert advice, we examined all aspects of its architectural interest including: whether it fulfilled its brief; whether it was a particularly good example of a public library; how well it survives; how it compares to other listed buildings of a similar type; and how influential the building has been. In our view, these tests were met.
We are naturally disappointed that Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw came to a different conclusion and we believe many local people will be too.
Birmingham City Council reports the decision as “immunity from listing” Mike Whitby, the council leader, has said:
“We are delighted that Government has granted our application for ‘immunity from listing’ for the Central Library, giving us a major boost in our plans to regenerate the city.
“Now, our vision around a new world-class library and theatre will be enriching transformational change in the heart of the city.
“Today’s decision helps pave the way for a multi-million pound redevelopment of Paradise Circus, which will allow people to enjoy a spectacular long-view from our Council House up to the new Library of Birmingham.
For more on people’s views about the library please see our post from yesterday. Jon Bounds – who opposes the demolition of the building – has been collecting a whole range of constantly updated articles here.
Government to announce decision on Listing for Birmingham Central Library
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
Birmingham Central Library. Photo: Matthew Black
Tomorrow we are all expecting to find out the fate of Birmingham’s famous Central library. Will it be listed, and so protected from demolition, or not? Culture minister Margaret Hodge has the final say and it is reported that she will reject the proposal to list the building.
There has been intense campaigning for the building. English Heritage wants it listed:
“Birmingham Library does still meet the strict criteria for listing, as we had also advised when we considered this building in 2002.
“This brutalist modern building has defined an era of Birmingham’s history. It was innovative in incorporating other municipal planning needs, such as public spaces and a bus shelter. It was also well designed for its original use, taking into account practical concerns such as the effect of direct sunlight on books.”
John Madin from a BBC Documentary via eversion on Flickr
Alan Clawley of the Friends of Birmingham Central Library has written a series of detailed pieces on why the building should be saved at The Stirrer. He’s not alone in arguing that it is an iconic part of Birmingham’s landscape and history. It was designed by John Madin, along with a whole series of buildings in Birmingham and the architect has defended his design, saying:
“I humbly suggest it is an excellent example of the period. The council’s objective is financial, and they have made misleading statements about its condition and use. It is disgraceful.”
Les Sparks, former director of planning for Birmingham City Council and one of our Trustees also added to the debate in favour of keeping the old library. He was quoted on one web site:
“It is a very fine example of the Brutalist aesthetic and a great monumental statement. It is Birmingham’s greatest post-war building.”
Architect Rob Annable, who’s also argued to save the 1960′s Bull Ring, says “Madin was the starchitect of his day.” Esther Boyd, an architect who blogs for The Birmingham Post, said refurbishing the library would be more cost effective and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
But there are those who believe the 1970s building is an eye-sore (including Prince Charles who called it a place to burn books rather than read them), and ought to be replaced by the newer modern design. Birmingham city resident Matthew Bott wrote on prominent Birmingham blog The Stirrer he couldn’t wait for demolition of the old building to begin:
“If a library is to attract people to sit and read, relax and use the facilities, it should be flooded with natural light so that people actually enjoy being there.
“Not only does it throttle pedestrian routes, but as a complex it straddles an enormously-important-but-outdated road junction that desperately needs to be realigned and reduced.
Bott also highlights the improvements on use of space around Paradise Circus if the building was removed:
“The Town Hall could be given a stunning new setting; traffic could be moved away and a pedestrianised zone created akin to Brindley Place. Better use could be made of this prime space: new offices and leisure amenities, perhaps a premier hotel and well-designed apartments.”
Image of the new Library of Birmingham
More comments can be found on the Building Design website here and some more history about the original design on their website here.
Work has already begun on the site of a new central library, one which The Guardian described as “the clearest sign yet of a national renaissance in the construction of grand civic libraries.”
Writers, including Andrew Motion, Phillip Pullman, Ruth Rendell and Sir Alan Ayckbourn have supported the Mecanoo design of the new building, which is described as “a transparent glass building wrapped in a delicate metal filigree, inspired by the rich and proud history of this former industrial city with a tradition of craftsmanship.”
