don’t it always seem to go29.11.09
I’m a bit late to the Birmingham library debate having just returned to the region after years frolicking in Cornwall and London. So its only in the last few months that I’ve caught up with the plans, and I’m truly dumbstruck that the death knell is sounding for the building as English Heritage this week refused its listed status.
Whilst I don’t decry the need for something to be done about the interior, nor do I hold a grudge against the new building plans (minus the knocking down the old library part). But how can such a regionally iconic example of modernist architecture, designed by a local architect not be listed and have people rooting for its demolition? I rarely use these 3 letters but in this case I’ll make the exception…WTF?
I admit I’ve not always felt this way. 8 years ago when I used to live in Birmingham, I hated the library, I saw it as an obscure cement lump. But I’ve changed my mind. Shifts in my personal tastes aside I think the Southbank can take a lot of credit for this, having seen the way a similar space is appreciated and treated through art exhibitions and recreational uses has helped me cultivate an appreciation for modernist architecture.
Sadly in Birmingham I’ve never witnessed any attempt to work sympathetically with the design either internally and externally. From the hideously gaudy airport terminal inspired Paradise Forum that runs through it, to the incredibly ugly Copthorne hotel (and its twin, which I don’t know the name of) that create a claustrophobic view of the inverted step façade (to be more technical ‘inverted ziggurat’).
Its almost as if the building has been treated like a bastard child the city had in the 70s and would rather forget. Forget postwar architecture its not quite canonised enough for our tastes just yet, so lets just knock it down and build something we hope is just about bland enough to still be in favour in 40 years, and if not we can just repeat the cycle again.
I don’t know if there is any way the building will be saved, either as a library or in another guise and given a much needed spot of TLC. And so I wonder what ways there might be to both document, re-purpose and celebrate the space incase/before its too late (photography, pervasive games, exhibitions, hmmmmm??). I guess its just down to finding like minded people and the keyholders with the ability to say yes to a suitably fitting swan song before the wrecking ball strikes.
Image source: Created in Birmingham
[...] ranting last November about the decision to not list the iconic Birmingham Library building, I’m back on the war [...]