Centenary Square- Broad Street, Central Square, Library of Birmingham, Hyatt Regency, Symphony Hall, ICC, Hall of Memory, Alpha Tower, Westside district
The Central Library of Birmingham, the largest public library in the UK and largest regional library in Europe. It is a large building (60m tall) with rare high tech postmodern architecture featuring oriental shapes with golden glass and a mix of rectangular circular shapes. This library was opened in 2013. The building was designed by Francine Houben and is very futuristic and unusual. It is one of the most visited attractions in the UK, and is considered a flagship for Birmingham's redevelopment. Inside the building you will find a futuristic circular atrium with blue neon escalators, a futuristic glass elevator leading to the top and and an observation deck/rooftop terrace with public views of Birmingham. At this modern terrace you find the Shakespeare Room, an old fashioned room with books, the death mask, sculptures and other belongings to William Shakespeare. The library is connected with the Birmingham Rep (Repertoar Theatre), built in 2013. Alpha Tower, built in 1970 near Centenary Square, is currently (2017) the 2nd tallest skycraper, with its white diagonally irregular design. It has 28 floors and is 100m to the roof. The ICC (International Convention Centre) building that includes the Symphony Hall has one entrance at the square and a large and long very modern atrium that leads to the canal. It was built 1984-91 with blue tinted windows and white stone cladding. The square is a center for many of the city's main cultural events. The Wheel of Birmingham, a high ferris wheel was placed at the square 2005-06. Broad Street is a busy street that passes Centenary Square to the South, you pass the canal, the Hyatt Regency and Popworld, a former church that is now a fluffy night club. In the Westside district, you also find the Brindleyplace, canalside mixed-use development. Here you find the National Sea Life Centre, Royal Bank of Scotland, Orion Media, Ikon Gallery of Art and the Crescent Theatre. Central Square, the heart of Brindleyplace, is a nice modern square/designed piazza with fountains and many postmodern buildings. The ArtsFest is held here annually. Here you find the Brindleyplace Clock Tower, a red brick landmark, that is part of Three Brindleyplace building in Italian renaissance/postmodern style that also faces the canal. Inside the building is an atrium. Oozels Square is next to Central Square.
CENTENARY SQUARE: BROAD STREET: CENTRAL SQUARE: |