Sir Herbert Manzoni

[mikejee]

Many would add "in" before famous concerning this man. I admit I was only aware of his demolition activities and affection for brutalistic monstrosities. However ,.going through a pile of old magazines prior to helping the recycling industry, I came across this piece written in 1960 when many admired him (and I had never actually visited Birmingham!). It does seem that before his later activities he contributed a lot to the city .

 

[devonjim]

Many would add "in" before famous concerning this man. I admit I was only aware of his demolition activities and affection for brutalistic monstrosities. However ,.going through a pile of old magazines prior to helping the recycling industry, I came across this piece written in 1960 when many admired him (and I had never actually visited Birmingham!). It does seem that before his later activities he contributed a lot to the city .

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This article always coloured my opinion of Sir Herbert Manzoni, I have never regarded him as infamous. Work had been started on the inner road well before this article and it's basic design was a number of decades before. At the time the 1960's Bull Ring was hailed as a model of the future. I understand that many of the decisions on the detail of the ring road were dictated by ministerial financial restraints at the time of construction which contributed to much of the destruction that we all now mourn.

 

[Vivienne14]

His strength was obviously in engineering. So perhaps the aesthetics of buildings were secondary considerations to him in favour of functionality, fitness for purpose and cost. Viv

 

[devonjim]

His strength was obviously in engineering. So perhaps the aesthetics of buildings were secondary considerations to him in favour of functionality, fitness for purpose and cost. Viv

I knew of, rather than about Herbert Manzoni, I have always thought he was "to do" with the Madin Library. But reading up this afternoon I find Manzoni had nothing whatsoever to do with this building, the City of Birmingham architect was Alan Maudsley(1966-73) who worked with John Madin. Before Maudsley the Birmingham architect had been Alwyn Sheppard Fidler.(1952-1964) . Who I did hear talk about the design of the flats at Rubery in a lecture when I was at school. So Manzoni had been long off the scene.

 

[Richard Dye]

This article always coloured my opinion of Sir Herbert Manzoni, I have never regarded him as infamous. Work had been started on the inner road well before this article and it's basic design was a number of decades before. At the time the 1960's Bull Ring was hailed as a model of the future. I understand that many of the decisions on the detail of the ring road were dictated by ministerial financial restraints at the time of construction which contributed to much of the destruction that we all now mourn.

My feelings were/are that the Bull Ring design was architectural wasteland. Last I saw it I was an unimpressed 19 year old!

 

[Stokkie]

My feelings were/are that the Bull Ring design was architectural wasteland. Last I saw it I was an unimpressed 19 year old!

Gosh, Richard! It's all changed or about to change again now. The latest ideas seem to be more green space in the inner city (which I look forward to) but also zones of high rise towers. These can generate wind tunnels and an alien environment for pedestrians.
Derek

 

[Richard Dye]

Gosh, Richard! It's all changed or about to change again now. The latest ideas seem to be more green space in the inner city (which I look forward to) but also zones of high rise towers. These can generate wind tunnels and an alien environment for pedestrians.
Derek

Walking through the canyons in NYC on a cold winter day, the wind will cut you in half!