Architecture Birmingham

17 & 19 newhall street in birmingham s characteristic victorian red brick , terracotta

birmingham chiefly product of 18th, 19th , 20th centuries; growth began during industrial revolution. consequently, relatively few buildings survive earlier history , protected. there 1,946 listed buildings in birmingham , thirteen scheduled ancient monuments. birmingham city council operate locally listing scheme buildings not meet criteria statutorily listed status.

traces of medieval birmingham can seen in oldest churches, notably original parish church, st martin in bull ring. few other buildings medieval , tudor periods survive, among them lad in lane , old crown, 15th century saracen s head public house , old grammar school in kings norton , blakesley hall.

a number of georgian buildings survive, including st philip s cathedral, soho house, perrott s folly, town hall , of st paul s square. victorian era saw extensive building across city. major civic buildings such victoria law courts (in characteristic red brick , terracotta), council house , museum & art gallery constructed. st chad s cathedral first roman catholic cathedral built in uk since reformation. across city, need house industrial workers gave rise miles of redbrick streets , terraces, many of back-to-back houses, of later become inner-city slums.

selfridges, architects future systems

postwar redevelopment , anti-victorianism resulted in loss of dozens of victorian buildings new street station , old central library, replaced brutalist architecture. sir herbert manzoni, city engineer , surveyor of birmingham 1935 until 1963, believed conservation of old buildings sentimental , city did not have of worth anyway. in inner-city areas too, victorian housing demolished , redeveloped. existing communities relocated tower block estates castle vale.

in partial reaction against manzoni years, birmingham city council demolishing of brutalist buildings central library , has extensive tower block demolition , renovation programme. there has been redevelopment in city centre in recent years, including award-winning future systems selfridges building in bullring shopping centre, brindleyplace regeneration project, millennium point science , technology centre, , refurbishment of iconic rotunda building. funding many of these projects has come european union; town hall example received £3 million in funding european regional development fund.

highrise development has slowed since 1970s , in recent years because of enforcements imposed civil aviation authority on heights of buildings affect aircraft airport (e.g. beetham tower).