TIGERSHUNGRY

Ashfield Motors long stood as a derelict petrol station in the Jewelery Quarter. That special vintage kind with ye-oldee rusting  sqaut shaped petrol pumps that exude a psuedo Americana charm. That is until this year when it was flattened and construction is now in full swing on the site with only the original painted sign clinging on.

I’ve walked past it so many times but foolishly never took a photo and today realised was most likely the day that the sign, the final homage to the station, is about to be smothered up by breezeblocks for good. Sadly not being armed with my camera I was forced to take shots on my iPhone (note the stacked breeze blocks beginning to creep up from the bottom), although others have thankfully captured it better before.

But although its being bricked up part of me is consoled by the way its being secreted away. Like a time capsule. I’d like to imagine that at some point in the future people in silver unitards, operating their hover-bulldozer-laz0r machines will come along and take down the bricks and discover this unexpected gem, then hopefully spend a while cooing over the typography and remembering the history.

at the Urban Coffee Company. Full details and sign up is available at www.projectbrutal2.eventbrite.com

I’m finally putting my money were my mouth is and have organised a meeting to rally people around ‘Project Brutal’ an idea to create a series of events and projects that celebrate and capture Birmingham’s Brutal Library whilst we still have it. The initial meeting is being held on the 20th of April at the ever delightful Created in Birmingham shop and anyone with a passion for the library is welcome to attend.

Full information on the initial meeting can be found on the eventbrite sign up page… and there’s more info over on the tumblr I’ve set up to track the project.

Any questions then just drop me a line!

After ranting last November about the decision to not list the iconic Birmingham Library building, I’m back on the war path, albeit a creative and productive one. I won’t go into the full ins and outs on here, as I’ve set up a tumblr to help channel the project into one low monthly payment, or blog if you will.

Basically the idea at present is to find like minded people and creative networks/ groups keen to work together to organise a series of events and activities to celebrate, enjoy and capture the library before it potentially meets its maker.

I’m going to be joining the people dots with a meeting in mid-late March and will post the full details on here asap. So if you have any sense you’ll head over to the tumblr site and sign up!

pip pip

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? (more…)