The Royal Institute of British Architects have announced an international design competition to regenerate Centenary Square, one of Birmingham's largest public spaces, and neighbor to Birmingham's International Convention Centre, the Old Rep Theatre, and the the Library of Birmingham by Mecanoo which was shortlisted for the 2014 Stirling Prize.
Birmingham: The Latest Architecture and News
RIBA Launches Centenery Square Regeneration Competition for Birmingham
Make Architects Win Planning For First Building in Birmingham's Arena Central
Birmingham City Council has approved Make Architects' designs for the first commercial building of the city's Arena Central masterplan. Located on Broad Street and overlooking the historic Centenary Square, 1 Arena Central is set to be the first step in the master plan for the 9.2 acre site at the heart of Birmingham City Center Enterprise Zone. The eight story building, which will feature 135,000 square feet of Grade A office space, with 5,000 square feet of retail on the ground floor, is emblematic of the flagship development of the overall master plan.
Mecanoo's Francesco Veenstra on "Sustainability as Social Responsibility"
Francesco Veenstra, one of six partners at the Dutch practice Mecanoo and Lead Architect on a number of major projects in the United Kingdom, recently spoke to Mies. UK about the practice's approach to design and their unique take on sustainability. Having recently completed a major public building in Birmingham (which was put to the vote and won the AJ's 2013 Building of the Year), and with more in the pipeline, the practice's international outlook is growing. How has the practice's design methodology and core ideas influenced this success? Read more after the break.
Competition Entry: Monument to Foot Soldiers / Jaklitsch/Gardner Architects
In honor of Alabama’s 50th Anniversary of the Birmingham Civil Rights Campaign, a national design competition was launched to envision a “Monument to Foot Soldiers.” New York City-based Jaklitsch / Gardner Architects was one of many entrants who responded, hoping to design a monument that would honor the sacrifices made by the unnamed activists who fought for civil rights and celebrate the power of the human spirit.
The Pavilion at Library of Birmingham / Studio Myerscough
Critics React to Mecanoo's Birmingham Library
With Birmingham's new public library opening last week, Mecanoo's latest large-scale public building has received mixed reviews from critics in the UK. Check out the critical responses from Hugh Pearman, The Telegraph's Stephen Bayley, The Guardian's Oliver Wainwright, The Observer's Rowan Moore, and The Financial Times' Edwin Heathcote after the break...
Library of Birmingham / Mecanoo
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Architects: Mecanoo
- Area: 35000 m²
- Year: 2013
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Manufacturers: Hunter Douglas Architectural (Europe), Kingspan Insulated Panels, Lamberts, Sika, Clark Door, +3
Millennium Point Visibility Winning Proposal / Daniel Madeiros + Jonathan Schwinge
Daniel Madeiros and Jonathan Schwinge were recently announced as the winners of the ideas competition organized by Millennium Point and the RIBA to enhance the visibility and image of Millennium Point in Birmingham from the Jennens Road approach. The jury panel was struck by the beauty and grace of their winning idea which was underpinned by craft and technology, convincing the jury that the dramatic form could be constructed. Also demonstrating complexity and sensitivity to the site, Millennium Point will benefit greatly from this competition and the opportunities it now has for its next phase of architectural evolution. More images and architects' description after the break.
AD Architecture School Guide: Birmingham City University’s BIAD
What are Live Projects? A UK term, it refers to collaborations between architecture schools and real clients on real projects. In the US, for example, these are merely referred to as industry collaborations. Clients are widely variant, from municipal governments and youth organizations, as well as galleries and community-based gardens.
There are many iterations of this teaching model in the UK so the issue is, how to determine a good fit for prospective students? One issue that is increasingly at the fore of students’ minds is how to balance idealism with practical skills. At Birmingham City University’sBIAD (Birmingham Institute of Art and Design), the program is structured precisely to help students achieve that balance.
The Lighthouse Young People’s Centre / Associated Architects
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Architects: Associated Architects
- Area: 1930 m²
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Manufacturers: RODECA GMBH
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Professionals: GF Tomlinson, Halligan Associates, Shire Consulting, Turner & Townsend
Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College / Nicholas Hare Architects
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Architects: Nicholas Hare Architects
- Area: 14 m²
- Year: 2008
Birmingham Ormiston Academy / Nicholas Hare Architects
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Architects: Nicholas Hare Architects
- Area: 8 m²
- Year: 2011
Birmingham Schools Framework / Haworth Tompkins
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Architects: Haworth Tompkins
- Area: 6000 m²
- Year: 2012
The Cube / Make Architects
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Architects: Make Architects
- Area: 42000 m²
- Year: 2010
Broadway School / Cottrell & Vermeulen
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Architects: Cottrell & Vermeulen
- Year: 2011
Video: The Library of Birmingham Timelapse
Opening in 2013, the Library of Birmingham will be a major new cultural destination, rewriting the book for 21st century public libraries. Designed by international architects Mecanoo, the Library of Birmingham will be located in the city’s Centenary Square. Recently, the author of the architectural videos blog shared with us his time lapse video of the building.
In Progress: Library of Birmingham / Mecanoo architecten
Architect: Mecanoo architecten Location: Birmingham, England Photographs: Paul Reynolds, Mecanoo architects