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New Birmingham library plans

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Some recent photos of mine.

3rd August 2013 - one month until opening





28th July 2013



Behind the demolished Bridge Street Car Park



More to come
 
More from the 27th July 2013

Saw "zombies" near the Cambridge Street side!



Restored view of Symphony Hall, The ICC and The REP with the Library of Birmingham



And Hyatt Hotel

 
Thank's for uploading all these ell, not sure about the back of the Rep it resembles a non nondescript warehouse somewhere:sour:.
 
If this new statue of a family is anything like the one burnt down I for one will not be impressed. I would have liked to see something with a water feature on the style of the Trevi fountain in Rome but obviously smaller. Eric
 
I,m sure it will be excellent inside,fit for the purpose but the outside leaves much to be desired for my eyes.
 
Hi All,

I have refrained from commenting on the new library until now. In my opinion the finished building is a calamity. I feel that in a large square in any city the buildings should be similar to afford conformity. They should all at least consist of the same material. The library sticks out like a sore thumb and ruins the look of Centenery Square. They should invite Prince Charles to open it. I would like to hear his comments.

Old Boy
 
Today, think it`s a disaster, it has to be better on the inside,

how long will it stand.

 

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Old Boy said:
Hi All,

I have refrained from commenting on the new library until now. In my opinion the finished building is a calamity. I feel that in a large square in any city the buildings should be similar to afford conformity. They should all at least consist of the same material. The library sticks out like a sore thumb and ruins the look of Centenery Square. They should invite Prince Charles to open it. I would like to hear his comments.

Old Boy
Click to expand...

You think we have problems, check out the art gallery of Ontario in Toronto..
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gustavothomastheatre/4408037358/
 
I've been having a read through the thread, and comments in the first 100 posts are interesting !
I have only seen photos of the library and am curious to know whether the present design was chosen from a range of designs. If so is there a link to anywhere which shows the other design submissions ?
 
What ever our opinion is of the library it should be an asset to Brum and people will be drawn to it's contents and it's events which is the reason for it's existence.
I'm impressed with the speed of it's construction and it is opening on time and it's finished:positive:. I personally like it but it does in my opinion overwhelm the Square somewhat:cower:.The Selfridges building seemed to stir things up a little when it was constructed but we have learned to live with it and it's now one of the top 25 photographed buildings in the world,i hope this will be the case with the Library:encouragement:.

This is interesting, the top most beautiful public libraries in the world, they couldn't have spotted us yet:triumphant:..

https://flavorwire.com/280318/the-25-most-beautiful-public-libraries-in-the-world

What's your favourite?, Stuttgart has a stunning interior methinks:star:.
 
One thing that looks strange to me is how the scrolling is cut off indicated by the red arrow. I'm sure the Victorian architects would have designed it so that the scroll circles would have been complete at the top edge as it is a the bottom of the scrolling. It looks like some 'standard' scroll material was bought and just cut to suit the building. In the good old days the scrolling would have been better designed to suit the building levels.
library1.JPG
 
I think you are right about the off-the-shelf scrolling, but remember the builders have to make as much profit off it as they can.
 
brumgum said:
This is interesting, the top most beautiful public libraries in the world, they couldn't have spotted us yet:triumphant:..

https://flavorwire.com/280318/the-25-most-beautiful-public-libraries-in-the-world
Click to expand...
What about number 8 in Seattle, the outside of that is AWFUL !

I sometime wonder if some architects sit together in a room and come up with the stupidest design they can and see if any "falls" for it.

It is a bit like the emperors new clothes, everyone is scared to say "that is terrible".

I think they did that with the new library in Birmingham, there is probably a group of architects in a room somewhere killing themselves laughing that someone was stupid enough to build it.
 
The "Library of Birmingham" sign is squeezed in vertically on the left as though someone forgot to arrange for it to be there.
I still don't like the building, it's better when the sun shines on it , otherwise the scrolling looks grubby already. I hope the inside lives up to our expectations!
rosie.
 
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