Creative Architects in the West Midlands |

Projects & Causes: Creative Architects in the West Midlands

There are nearly 50 Architecture practices established in Birmingham alone, yet the new landmark buildings of our cities are being designed by other Architects from across the world.

Future systems' Selfridges building is now the picture postcard image of Birmingham, yet it was designed by an architect from Prague, based on a concept of a chain-mail dress from a Paco Robanne catwalk show. Where is the essence of birmingham in the architecture? Now the new Birmingham Library Building is in the hands of a Dutch architect, Mecanoo. Could this be yet another iconic building which could be in any city, in any country? Has globalisation and an international architectural style eroded the sense of place in architecture?

We only have 19 Architects registered as Creative Republic Members, so we are aiming to promote this sector of our Creative Industry in Birmingham and engage with more architects!
Sign our charter here http://www.creativerepublic.org.uk/user/register

Goals

Out of the nearly 1000 members of Creative Republic, only 19 state their primary sector as Architecture (as of July 2009).

- To engage with more architects in Creative Republic
- To provide a forum for discussion of West Midlands Architecture
- Bring together local architects and raise the profile of architecture in the West Midlands

Activity

Event 1: Be2camp Birmingham - 12th August 2009 12 - 8pm Fazeley Studios Digbeth be2camp = Built Environment + Web 2 + camp (camp is term used to describe a free, informal conference) Sign up for the event now! http://be2campbrum.eventbrite.com/

Event 2: Jewellery Quarter Architecture Walk - Date to be confirmed

Event 3: Retain and Refurbish V's New Buildings Debate: The new £193 Million Birmingham Library - Date to be confirmed

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More Info

Over the coming months there are a series of events for you to get involved in...

Event 1: Be2Camp Wed 12th August at Fazeley Studios

Be2camp = Built Environment + Web 2 + camp (camp is term used to describe a free, informal conference) Sign up here http://be2campbrum.eventbrite.com/ Be2camp Brum is a place for people interested in how the latest web applications and web design techniques (Web 2.0; eg RSS, blogs, twitter, wikis, google maps) could help build a better, more sustainable environment - from planning and design through construction to occupation and management of buildings, infrastructure, landscape etc.
Speakers include:

Dave Harte, Digital Birmingham (@daveharte)
Andy Hartwell, Substrakt (@andyhartwell)
David Burden, Daden (@davidburden)
Nick Booth, Podnosh (@podnosh)
Paul Wilkinson, pwcom 2.0 (@EEPaul)
Martin Brown, fairsnape (@fairsnape)
Geoff Henderson, DNA
Claire Hardwick, Family Housing Association
Usman Haque, Pachube (@pachube)
Brian Prangle, Open Street Map
Rob Annable, Axis Design Architects (@eversion)
Lorna Parsons, Bryant Priest Newman (@lornaparsons)
Toby Barnes, We Are Mudlark (@tobybarnes)
John Bounds, BiNS (@bounder)
Jon de Souza, Constructing Excellence (@constructingexc)
John Cave, EH Smith (@JohnCave)
Victor Tsemo, WMCCE
Phil Clark, Building Magazine (@zerochamp)

Following the event we will host feedback and discussions on our website, to put into practice the aims of be2camp.

Event 2: Jewellery Quarter Architecture Walk

Frederick Street An event for everyone interested in Birmingham's 'Architectural Gems' in the Jewellery Quarter! The area has 214 Listed Buildings and is already a designated conservation area. The Quarter has is described by English Heritage as 'a unique historic environment with few, if any, parallels in Europe' and they are controversially bidding for World Heritage status, which could make future development even harder than at present. The recent competition for the 1.5 million 'Golden Square' at the heart of the Jewellery Quarter attracted entries from more than 100 top designers from across the world, but was won by Birmingham based architect Capita Lovejoy and their design team including David Patten, Bryant Priest Newman, Ramboll Whitby Bird, Light Bureau, Substrakt and Ocmis. The scheme is based on the site outside the Big Beg, which is currently used for car parking. The area lacks a space for people to linger, relax and enjoy the atmosphere of the vibrant creative district. Local residents and businesses are keen to have good quality public spaces in the quarter, as the only existing public spaces are in graveyards! However the issue of parking in the area is a hotly debated topic. Following the event we will host a discussion online about Birmingham's Architectural Heritage and Future. You will also be able to upload photos of your Best and Worst loved Buildings in Birmingham!

Event 3: Retain and Refurb V's New Buildings Debate: Birmingham's New Library

An event to debate the pros and cons of Refurbishment versus Demolition. The commission to design the new £193 million Library for a site adjacent to Centenary Square was won last year by Dutch Architects Mecanoo. The existing Brutalist Style Library by John Madin, a local birmingham Architect dating from 1974 has been condemned by Birimingham Council as they claim they need to sell their land assets for commercial development to fund the new expanded Library building. However, English Heritage has recommended the building for listing, and the future of the building is to be decided by architecture minister Margaret Hodge.