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-   -   New Office Skyscraper for Birmingham - British Land (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=139187)

Citrus-Fruit Oct 9, 2007 5:35 PM

New Office Skyscraper for Birmingham - British Land
 
This is the new proposed office tower for Birminghams Colmore Row. At 160m to roof and 175m to tip it will become Birminghams second tallest tower.

It is the 9th firm proposal over 100m for the English city to go with the 3 already built. :)

Exhibition was today, here are a few pics from other forumers as I dont have a camera.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...n/DSC00653.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...n/DSC00652.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...n/DSC00651.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...n/DSC00650.jpg

Swede Oct 9, 2007 8:58 PM

Gotta say I'm not a big fan of the design. But I would certainly not be against it in my city. It's not spectacular, but also not really ugly, more kinda... meh.

Citrus-Fruit Oct 10, 2007 1:06 PM

Yeh its what all these pictures are letting off. Up close and personal as everyones who's been to the exhibit vouches for, its alot more spectacular then these give it justice for. Most are saying its the best tower Brum has ever seen and we've got some real corkers approved and U/C.

Its also in a conservation area and this is the only plot where its not adjoined to a listed building. Normally in other cities, Liverpool, London, Manchester etc, the CS would have limited any tower to about 50-60m so we are indeed very lucky.

A few more changes will be made before submittion in December but it looks as if work is due to commence early 2008 with demo of the current building and work on the new tower in summer/autumn 2008. :yes:

It will rise simultaneously with, Snow Hill, V Building, V.T.P and BST. all over 130m.

RJTJP Oct 10, 2007 9:35 PM

Colmore Row Abomination
 
As a teenager I watched with horror the building of the Nat West tower on the corner of Newhall Street and Colmore Row, a nasty piece of brutalism which defiled Birmingham’s finest street. Although part of the complex was demolished many years ago and replaced by a rather insipid low rise office building, the tower remains, so I was glad to see there were plans to demolish it and hopefully replace it with an edifice that while modern respected its sensitive environment.

Today, finishing a meeting early, I decided to have a look at the plans for the new building displayed in the old banking hall at the foot of the Tower. I have to congratulate the developer and architects they have managed to produce a design, that does not just defile but desecrates Birmingham’s finest street.

The arrogance the design is frankly stunning, it dominates the street scene overwhelming the Cathedral, the Council House and Town Hall. The absolute philistinism of the design and its perpetrators‘ is aptly illustrated by their computer generated image of this monstrosity when viewed from the Cathedral Church yard.

Surprisingly I actually like tall buildings, in the right context they work, I have no objection to Beetham Tower the new V building on the ATV studio site, but in the Colmore Row context it can only be viewed as the victory of greed over aesthetics.

All those who care our their City and the quality of its environment should take time to go and see the exhibition and make their views known, and if the developers are insensitive enough to submit this for approval object vigorously to this calculated insult to our City and its people,

Letter to Birmingham Post

Citrus-Fruit Oct 11, 2007 6:04 PM

Oh dear, we have a member of the Civic Society on board. It overpowers nothing. Its within context of the area. It adjoins no listed buildings and the design itself compliments the square. Not only that, ammendments WILL be made as the architect said at the exhibition on certain sides of the tower and the exhibition was there to work with publics oppinions on how to make it better.

Your letter will be one of many no doubt in complete utter contempt for this tower, its expected, but if you think about it logically and with an ounce of common sense you would realise the developer, council and architects have come up with something superb for this plot.

When was the last time you saw a 6 story building do a conservation site justice? We dont build how we use to. It would look disjointed and ridiculous. This will be a landmark, a modern tower for a modern city. The 4 storey atrium, new public space and art will enhance the pedestrian area immensley.

...


Oh and I have no doubt you have zero reservations about toher towers because simply, THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN OR COULD DO ABOUT THEM. When you walk down a street are you telling me you keep you eyes firmly on street level. If so you wont mind a modern atrium will you. afterall if they kept it to 6 storeys, for one we would get utter crap and two it would be from a developer so much smaller then British Land we might aswell keep the Natwest Tower there.

:hell:

Mike K. Oct 13, 2007 11:30 PM

Do we have more renderings of this project? I read the comments of those who like it but I can't make up my mind with the renderings currently pasted here.

I'm sure its nice, but as one of the tallest structures it really should be a fantastic work of architecture and not just a means to an end.

Citrus-Fruit Oct 14, 2007 2:43 PM

Its a top notch Office building. I think we need to highlight the fact this will be the highest standard of office space outside London. Its by British Land, (Willis Building, Leadenhall, Broadgate) Thier work is highly commended.

The design will be altered here and there but the architects have to also design to the Civic Societys wishes in some way due to it being located bang in the middle of a conservation area.

Ill try and grab a few more pictures from elsewhere but we wont see the complete high def pics for a few months when it go's into planning.

Mike K. Oct 14, 2007 6:36 PM

Ok, great. I'd like to see more when they're available.


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