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New Birmingham library plans

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I thought the same as Lyn,that Eastside was looked at for the new library - would have been better siuaied there, could go with the other eyesores they have put there like Millenium Point, would have spoilt Curzon Street Station, but still been better than where it is now in my opinion.
Sue
 
No matter what we all think of it...good..bad or whatever, its here now, and like I have said before it not the outside which counts, its what inside that matters to us, if it gives us a better service than the last one, then I for one don't care if it looks like the a**e end of a duck.......
 
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Not many people walk around Eastside, even with all the new buildings.

Who uses the new park? (I've only popped into it twice for my photos).

Centenary Square is a more ideal location, more central (and more people head around "Westside" than "Eastside").
 
According to The Word (Chapter 7) (a newsletter on the Library of Birmingham you can pick up at your local library),
The old Central Library closes forever to the public on 29th June 2013.

The new library opens Tuedsay 3rd September 2013.
 
What is Birmingham's real architectural style ?
We have a mixture of architectural styles in the centre and so ... a reflection of our community.
The cube next to a classical style - hmmm -- it makes both styles stand out. And why not ?

The Bull ring design was different and it stands out too - it is far more artistic than the style it replaced.
We shouldn't have a whole line of buildings all the same style - thats boring - and non boring Birmingham is all for the good.

In 30 - 40 years time we can replace it and provide more jobs and more friendly discussion.
Buildings do not have to last forever.

Have a nice day.
 
Stephen0002002 said:
What is Birmingham's real architectural style ?
We have a mixture of architectural styles in the centre and so ... a reflection of our community.
The cube next to a classical style - hmmm -- it makes both styles stand out. And why not ?

The Bull ring design was different and it stands out too - it is far more artistic than the style it replaced.
We shouldn't have a whole line of buildings all the same style - thats boring - and non boring Birmingham is all for the good.

In 30 - 40 years time we can replace it and provide more jobs and more friendly discussion.
Buildings do not have to last forever.

Have a nice day.
Click to expand...
I like your style young man. The Pyramid at the Louvre could not be more different to the original but it won great acclaim.
 
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ellbrown said:
Not many people walk around Eastside, even with all the new buildings.
Who uses the new park? (I've only popped into it twice for my photos).
Centenary Square is a more ideal location, more central (and more people head around "Westside" than "Eastside").
Click to expand...

I used to walk around the Broad St area (now called Westside) in the 1980s and nobody went there either.

If you see the picture below from the 1980s you see why.

But then they built things in the area like Brindley Place and the NIA, and now we have lots of visitors.

The same would apply to Eastside if you built the new library there.

veryold2.jpg
 
Yes Guilbert you are right - once there is more in Eastside the people will follow. The parts of the City I recall as a Kid as being very busy are now a lot quieter and visa versa. Though I do think it would take more than the Library alone to draw large numbers.
 
Guilbert post 337, to each his own, I have painted that very scene many years ago, one of dozens of similar views around Gas St basin area, and every one sold, so it must be popular with some, its very neglected appearance is what attracts me to such subjects and reminds me of a more tranquil bygone age wich we will never see again. Eric
 
By the way Eric I agree that this area had a charm all of its own prior to being cleaned up but unlikely to attract large numbers as Guilbert rightly points out.
 
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Brindley Place / Gas Street Basin are complete.

Eastside is all universities and colleges. Will it be finished when the HS2 station opens?
Say another 20 years?
 
I took four of my Grand Chidren yesterday( one severn year old two eight year olds and one ten year old ) to show them the new library and asked them what THEY thought of the design, all four gave it the thumbs up. So perhaps we should look at these new buildings through our young citizens eyes.
 
I hope we get access to all the old books, as most of them have been behind the scenes at the old Central Library (without touching them).
Will it feel like a museum of books?

Only less than 6 months to go now.

Does anyone know who the council have got to officially open it?
 
A few new photos in the April 2013 sunshine (better late than never, but it wont last - will be raining again by next week)

With Baskerville House





Landscaping around the atrium



 
First book has been added today!!
[link removed - no longer valid. See next post from ellbrown]
 
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Saw the new library from behind so to speak, on Friday when visiting the NIA and have to say it doesn't look so bad that way on!!
Sue
 
There was a suggestion that Baskerville House could have been used for a central library but some boffin said the floors wouldn't carry the weight of all the books,I don't believe that one bit,floors can be reinforced....the new library itself is not even unique,its just another mass produced building,the wrought iron effect is nothing new,its already been done in America....Birmingham has been ransacked of some of its most beautiful buildings,vast sheets of glass,corrugation and even plywood faced buildings,not forgetting the Lego effect of a ugly carpark,its all about mega bucks and impending knighthoods sadly,no respect for real architecture what so ever.
 
The Library opens in September, love it or hate it's not going away. Baskerville House was ruined years ago for me, when a greenhouse was built on top of it. No one complained about that.
 
I think I prefer the greenhouse,at least it doesn't distract from fine architecture of the main building....the gold screw top on the new library makes it look like a cheap bottle of aftershave.
 
We have gone over and over this subject many times on the forum.
We now have a library not everyone likes, I am still unsure. At the end of the day for me I am happy now all these amazing books, maps, documents etc will be stored in the best possible place.
I was horrified when visiting the 6th floor last year to see so many leaks with buckets placed around. The security will be better stopping people taking photo's of photo's and documents and selling copies on Ebay. My cousin worked in the first library and was involved in the move to the last one. This was a massive task where some documents were lost or mislaid. She told me many stories before her death a few years ago of how difficult it was to police the books etc. She was very good at her job but an impossible task. We can now be thankful that technology will protect our precious historical documents.
 
 
I know it is because it was taken with a very wide angle lens, but it looks like a quarter slice of a large cake
 
No Mike, it was taken with phone camera. " quarter slice of a large cake" How did I know someone was going to say that. lol
 
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