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Centenary Square developments 2019

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At least they are straight. In Coventry, from the station towards city centre, past the new council offices, they have bent lampposts. It must be some architectural scheme or meaning, but I can not see the point.
 
If you thought that it look cluttered now, gawd knows what it will look like when they put up the other 16? it may be more, I kept going boss eyed trying to count them the lamp post that are now waiting to be erected, we me and another photographer think that these may line the pavement side of the square?,

as always I have taken loads of photo that have now gone into my archive
 
Vivienne14 said:
Can’t understand why they couldn’t have planted more trees instead of the columns. Trees would have softened the landscape and would have added some welcome greenery. Would have been at little cost too. Viv.
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Vivienne what was wrong with the original place , they just seem to be knocking down brilliant architecture and replacing it with boxes ?
 
Its an interesting thought that has mixed opinions. I quite like the idea of an accumulation of dirt is also an accumulation of its past history. I did wonder the value of jet washing some of the other buildings as the blackness did seem to reflect our industrial past.

Lots of village churches retain their blackened character and untidy graveyards
 
horsencart said:
If you thought that it look cluttered now, gawd knows what it will look like when they put up the other 16? it may be more, I kept going boss eyed trying to count them the lamp post that are now waiting to be erected, we me and another photographer think that these may line the pavement side of the square?,

as always I have taken loads of photo that have now gone into my archive
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Well i do hope you enjoy sitting looking at your "Loads of photographs" added to your archive.
 
hello horsencart....myself and other members have noticed that you have now withdrawn all of the photographs taken by yourself from this forum or at least the link to them but in taking this action did you stop to think that by doing so this now makes many many threads become disjointed and puts them in a right mess because we can now only read the comments that followed your photos but we no longer know what the photos look like....all this will put extra strain on moderators to try and clean up the mess left behind and tidy up threads as and when needed...you are of course at liberty to remove your photos that is your choice but by doing so are you really bringing anything to the table now??...the aim of this forum from its infancy was for members to share their memories and or photographs of birmingham be it photographs from days gone by or taken by ourselves but to constantly keep on posting that you have taken photos of something but they are now all in your own personal archives and we cant see them seems a little unfair almost childish dont you think??...without sharing there would be no history to talk about...thank you for your past contributions to the forum
 
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Here's a link to the winning design for Centenary square. I like it. In ten years time when it is being changed (again) people will be berating the council for demolishing something that they loved.
I was on the top of the library yesterday looking at the lighting columns and some of them were illuminated. Not only are there four lamps per column but a single lamp at the very top, difficult to see from the ground.

Winner | Graeme Massie Architects | Birmingham Centenary Square

Centenary Square Birmingham Competition
www.ribacompetitions.com
 
A light at the top that is difficult to see from the ground. Sounds like a deliberate attempt to cause light polutiion
 
Looks like a draughty place when the wind is blowing. I wonder what the lighting poles are made from? If metal (aluminium) they could 'sing' quite well on windy days. :grinning:
 
This is how they do a square in Barcelona, Spain. I was in the Plaça de Catalunya on Saturday near the end of my holiday in Catalonia.

Plaça de Catalunya Barcelona (1).jpg

Plenty of room for people and pigeons. Lampposts not in the way!

Plaça de Catalunya Barcelona (2).jpg
 
Astoness said:
hello horsencart....myself and other members have noticed that you have now withdrawn all of the photographs taken by yourself from this forum or at least the link to them but in taking this action did you stop to think that by doing so this now makes many many threads become disjointed and puts them in a right mess because we can now only read the comments that followed your photos but we no longer know what the photos look like....all this will put extra strain on moderators to try and clean up the mess left behind and tidy up threads as and when needed...you are of course at liberty to remove your photos that is your choice but by doing so are you really bringing anything to the table now??...the aim of this forum from its infancy was for members to share their memories and or photographs of birmingham be it photographs from days gone by or taken by ourselves but to constantly keep on posting that you have taken photos of something but they are now all in your own personal archives and we cant see them seems a little unfair almost childish dont you think??...without sharing there would be no history to talk about...thank you for your past contributions to the forum
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I seem to remember reading somewhere that Horsencart had had some of his photos "stolen" and used in a book without his permission and without any payment.

Sadly with Flickr you either have to make you photos public or private, and of course if they are public anyone can download them and claim them as their own.
 
My dancing days are long gone, never tried a pole though! I did see a girl doing it one Sunday Morning in the City Centre as she came out of a club very drunk!
rosie.
 
Lighting columns look again on Saturday afternoon.

Exiting The ICC.

Couldn't see much from this side so went up to the Library Discovery Terrace.

After exiting the library, noticed these smaller new lampposts outside of Baskerville House.

 
Discovery Terrace views of the new Lighting Columns from Saturday afternoon.

Does there look like room for the ice rink and big wheel here?



A 2013 comparison.



Back to yesterday.



2016 view which was the last time Ice Skate Birmingham came to Centenary Square before temporarily moving to Eastside City Park for 2017 and 2018.



More views from yesterday.



Panoramic



Paving looks done.



The other end.

 
I've not had time for Centenary Square etc, but a Graham Young article here.

www.birminghammail.co.uk

The new Centenary Square unveiled - but it looks wonky

As the barriers finally come down around the new Centenary Square something strange appears to have happened...
www.birminghammail.co.uk www.birminghammail.co.uk

It's a year behind schedule, 50 per cent over budget and still a long way from being properly finished


But the builders' barriers are coming down from around the majority of Centenary Square in time for the weekend.


And even though it is still rough around some of its edges, there will be an official opening ceremony on Wednesday, July 3.


Removing the barriers will give members of the public the chance to see if the project has been worth the wait - and you can have a sneak preview first in the video above.


The cost when work began in the spring of 2017 was originally set to be in the region of £10m before it headed towards £12 million.


It is now expected to be around £16m and has taken a year longer than planned to finish.



But the scheme still includes a fountain area that will create a shimmering pool to reflect the local buildings in.
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