Telling Storeys

The Wesleyan & General Assurance building, Colmore Row /...

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 11:01:17 +0000

The Wesleyan & General Assurance building, Colmore Row / Steelhouse Lane, built 1991 by Peter, Hing & Jones.

According to the Pevsner Guide: “A poor attempt at Postmodern, and very big.”

Brindley House and BT Tower, view from Newhall Square, Jewellery...

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 11:03:48 +0000

Brindley House and BT Tower, view from Newhall Square, Jewellery Quarter. Brindley House built 1968 by D.K. McGowen. BT Tower (formerly known as the Post Office Tower) built 1967.

Birmingham Sealife Centre, built in 1996 by Foster &...

Sat, 08 Dec 2012 11:01:03 +0000

Birmingham Sealife Centre, built in 1996 by Foster & Partners. Tucked away in a corner of Brindley Place.

According to the Pevsner Guide: “Its three-dimensional ray shape spoilt by poor grey-blue cladding”.

Not Norman Foster’s finest hour.

Birmingham Town Hall, built 1834. See this previous post on...

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 11:01:08 +0000

Birmingham Town Hall, built 1834.

See this previous post on Telling Storeys for the full story of how the building came to be.

Crocodile Works, Porchester St / Summer La, Newtown, Birmingham....

Sat, 17 Nov 2012 11:00:40 +0000

Crocodile Works, Porchester St / Summer La, Newtown, Birmingham. Glenn Howells Architects, completed in 2010. Social housing development by Midland Heart.

Birmingham Conservatoire (left) and Central Library (right).

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 12:25:39 +0000

Birmingham Conservatoire (left) and Central Library (right).

Birmingham Council House, Victoria Square. Completed in 1879 by...

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 08:29:19 +0100

Birmingham Council House, Victoria Square. Completed in 1879 by Joseph Chamberlain (who else?).

Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-on-Avon. Redeveloped in...

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 16:41:07 +0100

Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-on-Avon. Redeveloped in 2010 at a cost of £112m. The redevelopment team, led by RSC Chief Executive Peter Wilson, included architects Bennetts Associates. New sections of building include a 36m tower with views across Stratford town centre and the River Avon.

Birmingham School of Jewellery, Vittoria Street, Jewellery...

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 11:41:01 +0100

Birmingham School of Jewellery, Vittoria Street, Jewellery Quarter. Original building completed in 1865 by J.G. Bland, converted to a goldsmith’s in 1890 by Martin & Chamberlain. Additions in 1906 & 1911 by Cossins, Peacock & Bewley. Most recent work (including changes to Vittoria St façade shown here on left) carried out in 1993 by Associated Architects.

Printing Works, Printing House Street, Birmingham. This is the...

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 08:21:07 +0100

Printing Works, Printing House Street, Birmingham. This is the only surviving part of John H.D. Madin & Partner’s Post & Mail development completed in 1966.

Birmingham Conservatoire, Paradise Place, Birmingham. Built as...

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 12:19:42 +0100

Birmingham Conservatoire, Paradise Place, Birmingham. Built as part of Central Library civic centre complex by John Madin Design Group and completed in 1974. Formerly known as Birmingham School of Music. Forms part of Birmingham City University. Main concert hall (Adrian Boult Hall) seats 518 people. Various refurbishment work took place throughout the 1980s, and recent refurbishment work has taken place in the faculty library.

The Conservatoire forms part of the larger Central Library civic centre and is scheduled to be demolished as part of redevelopment work in the area.

Galbraith House, Great Charles Street, Birmingham. 8 storey...

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:05:55 +0100

Galbraith House, Great Charles Street, Birmingham. 8 storey office block built in 1960 by Surman, Kelly & Surman.

New Street Station Signal Box, Navigation Street, Birmingham -...

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 17:14:16 +0100

New Street Station Signal Box, Navigation Street, Birmingham - built in 1965 by Bicknell & Hamilton with W.R. Headley, Regional Architect for British Rail.

Previously featured on Telling Storeys in April 2012

(and yes, that’s my finger partially obscuring the lens.)

Central Library, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham. Built 1974 by...

Sat, 07 Jul 2012 11:34:49 +0100

Central Library, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham. Built 1974 by John Madin Design Group. The first library in Western Europe to be designed as a complete cultural centre. Now the subject of controversial debate, the city’s finest example of brutalist architecture is scheduled for demolition despite recommendations from English Heritage to list the building.

43 Temple Row, St Philip’s Square, Birmingham. Lloyds TSB...

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 08:22:16 +0100

43 Temple Row, St Philip’s Square, Birmingham. Lloyds TSB Bank, built in 1980 by James A. Roberts Associates.

87 Cornwall Street, Birmingham. Built 1899 by Henman &...

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 11:18:34 +0100

87 Cornwall Street, Birmingham. Built 1899 by Henman & Cooper for Dr. Parrott. Note subtle asymmetry of windows.

17 Ludgate Hill, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham - built 1912 by...

Sun, 24 Jun 2012 10:36:20 +0100

17 Ludgate Hill, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham - built 1912 by De Lacy Aherne. Converted to flats (‘Ludgate Lofts’) and extended in 1997 by Mark Humphries Architects

91 Cornwall Street, Birmingham - built 1905 by C.E. Bateman for...

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 13:15:26 +0100

91 Cornwall Street, Birmingham - built 1905 by C.E. Bateman for J. Mountford ‘surgeon-dentist’.

Ikon Gallery, Oozells Square, Birmingham - formerly Oozells...

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 17:27:32 +0100

Ikon Gallery, Oozells Square, Birmingham - formerly Oozells Street School built by Martin & Chamberlain in 1877. Conversion and additions in 1997 by Levitt Bernstein. Now a popular contemporary art venue.

The Cube, Wharfside Street, Birmingham - designed by MAKE...

Sat, 16 Jun 2012 11:31:40 +0100

The Cube, Wharfside Street, Birmingham - designed by MAKE Architects following a design competition, completed in 2010. MAKE Architects Director Ken Shuttleworth formerly of Foster & Partners.