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47-589: The Chamberlain Memorial , also known as the Chamberlain Memorial Fountain , is a monument in Chamberlain Square , Birmingham , England, erected in 1880 to commemorate the public service of Joseph Chamberlain (1836–1914), Birmingham businessman, councillor, mayor, Member of Parliament , and statesman. An inauguration ceremony was held on 20 October 1880, when Chamberlain himself was present. For

94-656: A building designed by Richard Rogers in Eastside did not materialise. Instead, a site in Centenary Square , 150m to the west of the existing building, was chosen in 2007; and subsequently the new Library of Birmingham was built and opened on 3 September 2013. In the intervening years Argent Group produced plans for the Paradise Circus site which did not include retention of the library building. In response to potential demolition English Heritage applied on two occasions for

141-505: A gradinata, and Marcel Breuer 's 1928 scheme for a hospital in Elberfeld , Germany; while another source of inspiration was Leslie Martin's Bodleian Law Library in Oxford . It has also been suggested that they were influenced by the similar design for Boston City Hall , but a member of Madin's design team said they had only seen this design after the library was complete. The central atrium

188-623: A major clean in 1994. Many sculptors and architects took to the memorial with dissatisfaction. John Roddis, a local sculptor, described it as "an architectural scarecrow" and "a hash of ornamental details". Nikolaus Pevsner also commented on the memorial in 1966 as an "ungainly combination of shapes". 52°28′47.83″N 1°54′15.10″W  /  52.4799528°N 1.9041944°W  / 52.4799528; -1.9041944 Chamberlain Square Chamberlain Square or Chamberlain Place

235-463: A member of the public was almost hit by a small piece of concrete that fell from a cladding panel. Concerns over the condition of the pre-cast cladding panels required the installation of netting to retain any further erosion. The entrance from Chamberlain Square was altered by the city's Urban Design team in 2001, creating a lobby and eliminating the effect of the original tall entrance hall. In July 2010,

282-479: A stock of 50,000. Plans to rebuild the library after the fire had been approved as early as May 1879. The library was rebuilt on the same site by J. H. Chamberlain in a Lombardic Renaissance style with a tall clerestoried Reading Room. At a cost of £54,975 the second Central Library opened on 1 June 1882. As the number of books increased, the Council resolved in 1938 that a new library was an "urgent necessity", but

329-558: Is a public square in central Birmingham , England , named after statesman and notable mayor of Birmingham, Joseph Chamberlain . The Victorian square was drastically remodelled in the 1970s, with most of the Victorian buildings demolished and the construction of the Brutalist Central Library . Re-landscaping occurred most recently when the square was closed to the public for five years until March 2021 for remodelling as part of

376-459: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Birmingham Central Library Despite the original vision not being fully implemented, the library gained architectural praise as an icon of British brutalism with its stark use of concrete, bold geometry, inverted ziggurat sculptural form and monumental scale. Its style was seen at the time as a symbol of social progressivism. Based on this, English Heritage applied but failed twice for

423-579: The Birmingham and Midland Institute (BMI) in 1860 after the construction of their own building in 1857 on the corner of Paradise Street and Ratcliff Place. The BMI building was to include a library, but under the Public Libraries Act 1850 a referendum took place on the creation of a municipal library. After the first vote failed, a second one passed in 1860 causing the BMI and the corporation to cooperate on

470-597: The Paradise scheme. Its features include: The annual Birmingham Christmas Craft Fair is held in Chamberlain Square from the third Friday in November to 23 December. The event began in 1997 as " Winterval ", held from 20 November to 31 December, with the intention of attracting business into Birmingham's newly rejuvenated city centre. Chamberlain Square was the original site of Birmingham's BBC Big Screen , where it

517-489: The Town Hall from the escalators. The library aimed to provide open access to all its 900,000 volumes. No basement was possible because of the low level roads beneath the library and a tall book stack was deemed inappropriate because of the desire to keep the height of the building low, so it did not overwhelm the surrounding buildings. Storage of the volumes was on the same level as the reading areas: this dual function led to

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564-549: The World Monuments Fund included the Central Library on its watch list of significant buildings at risk. Birmingham City Council had long planned to move library services away from the Central Library to leave the building free for redevelopment of Paradise Circus . The Paradise Circus site was sold by the Council in 1998 to Argent Group , this spelt an end to the Central Library. In 2004 an initial plan to move to

611-420: The Central Library as part of a large civic centre scheme on the newly created Paradise Circus site . Originally planned to be built alongside the library was a School of Music, Drama Centre, Athletic Institute, offices, shops, public house, a car park with 500 spaces and a bus interchange. The collection of civic buildings were all to be connected by high level walkways and the network of galleries which bridge

658-612: The Library of Birmingham. Planning Application 2012/05116/PA was approved by the City Council on 8 February 2013. The commercial outlets of Paradise Forum closed in January 2015, and the library site was fenced off except for the pedestrian route linking Chamberlain and Centenary Squares. Internal demolition of the library took place in the Summer and Autumn of 2015. On 1 November 2015, Paradise Forum

705-494: The Minister for Culture, stated that "the building did not have sufficient historical or architectural importance to merit listing". In 2009, following an application from Birmingham City Council for a Certificate of Immunity from Listing , Margaret Hodge signed the certificate which would be in place until 2016. In 2011 the World Monuments Fund included the library on its watch list along with Preston bus station stating that

752-510: The Reference Library was opened just over a year later on 26 October 1866. The chief librarian at the time of opening was John Davies Mullins . Initial use of the library was so heavy that the need for an extension was agreed in 1872 but deferred until 1878. On 11 January 1879 a fire broke out behind a wooden partition serving as a temporary wall during building operations. The fire caused extensive damage, with only 1,000 volumes saved from

799-430: The building to be listed . On both occasions the library was refused status as a listed building after lobbying from Birmingham City Council. In February 2011 the library received a 5-year Certificate of Immunity from Listing after an application from Birmingham City Council, which meant it could not be protected from demolition until 2016. The library closed on 29 June 2013 and books and archives were moved across to

846-399: The building to gain listed status. However, due to strong opposition from Birmingham City Council the building gained immunity from listing until 2016. In 2010–11, Central Library was the second-most visited library in the country, with 1,197,350 visitors. The first Central Library occupied a site to the south of Edmund Street and west of the Town Hall . The site had been acquired from

893-466: The buildings were dramatically sited and uncompromising in their stark use of concrete and powerfully structural forms. They brought a sense of the monumental to the British urban landscape at the time of their construction and remain architectural icons. It was hoped that placing these buildings on the watch list would open dialogue into their protection and alternatives for adaptive reuse. Preston bus station

940-480: The central atrium of the library was designed to define a civic square with gardens, pools, waterfalls and fountains, and potentially to form an open-air exhibition space. Six pools were to be placed in and around this square. Madin also designed the semi-circular amphitheatre around the Chamberlain Memorial in Chamberlain Square to frame the entrance to the library and the new civic square. The structure

987-625: The creation of the monument, £3,000 of public funds were raised. It was designed by the architect John Henry Chamberlain – no relation of the statesman, but a personal friend and himself a member of the Liberal elite who dominated civic life in Birmingham at this time. It is 65 feet (20 m) tall and in neo-Gothic style, reminiscent of the Albert Memorial . It bears a 50 centimetres (20 in) portrait medallion of Chamberlain by Thomas Woolner on

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1034-457: The east side of the lending library was decorated with painted birds, the work of Lucy McLauchlan . The appearance of the library building was criticised, mostly on account of the staining of the cladding panels which were originally white and were never cleaned. Prince Charles , in his 1988 television documentary and book A Vision of Britain , described the building as resembling "a place where books are incinerated, not kept". In October 2011

1081-514: The final part of the first phase of the £700m Paradise scheme following its closure in November 2015, the square was transformed with new paving, steps and lighting. Two commercial buildings, One Chamberlain Square and Two Chamberlain Square, totalling 350,000 sq ft of space, now face onto the square and form the commercial part of Phase One of Paradise. 52°28′48″N 1°54′15″W  /  52.4800°N 1.9042°W  / 52.4800; -1.9042 This West Midlands location article

1128-581: The inhabitants. Like the Chamberlain Memorial, the Chamberlain Clock (1903) in the centre of the Jewellery Quarter was also erected during Chamberlain's lifetime. In the late 1960s, the pools around the fountain were removed, but in 1978, to celebrate their Diamond Jubilee, The Birmingham Civic Society designed and paid for the pools to be reinstated. The Portland stone spire underwent

1175-474: The joint site. E. M. Barry was the architect for the BMI building and it was hoped he could be retained as the architect for the adjoining library, but his plans were deemed too expensive for the corporation. Martin & Chamberlain's plans were approved in October 1862 for a tender price of £8,600 with E. M. Barry's classical facade retained in the design. The Lending Library was opened on 6 September 1865 and

1222-486: The largest non-national municipal library in Europe. It was specifically designed for a long life and to stand hard wear with low maintenance costs. The council failed to implement the original plan for Paradise Circus. Spending cuts led to the council's decision to sell off the land surrounding the library, ending the vision of a publicly financed and owned civic centre occupying the entire site. The 200 seat Library Theatre

1269-520: The library building from demolition. Groups such as Friends of Central Library, the Twentieth Century Society , English Heritage and World Monuments Fund supported the retention of the library. English Heritage applied twice in 2002 and 2007 for the Central Library to be listed . On both occasions the Minister for Culture refused the application. On the second occasion, Margaret Hodge ,

1316-509: The library, and spoke negatively of the council's policies, stating "you don’t get a car and never get it serviced". Brutalist architecture was becoming more appreciated in the 21st Century with the listing of Preston bus station , Trellick Tower and the rejuvenation of Park Hill in Sheffield . Books celebrating brutalism were published and television shows featuring brutalist buildings began to feature with greater regularity. The Central Library

1363-447: The locally graded round aggregate was exposed by abrasive blasting . The floors were made of precast concrete coffered units over which a reinforced concrete floor was cast. For the cladding Madin offered the council a choice of Portland stone or Travertine Marble to align with the adjacent civic buildings. A third, cheaper option was pre-cast concrete with Hoptonwood limestone and Derbyshire spar aggregate with white cement : this

1410-411: The low ceiling height of three metres. Space was created in the reference library by opening up sections of the floors into double height reading spaces. The furniture for the library was specified by the architects, with a preference for oak veneer book stacks and black linoleum floor covering. When built, the Central Library provided approximately 23.300 m (250,000 ft ) of floor space, making it

1457-477: The north of the library, where an Athletic Institute was originally to stand, a six-storey office block was built in 1988–89 by Leonard J. Multon & Partners. A footbridge connecting the library with Centenary Square was added as part of improvements to the square in 1988–89. The atrium was enclosed with a glass roof and screens by the City Architect's Department in 1989–91. The space below

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1504-664: The outbreak of World War II meant that it was not until 1960, and the development of a new Inner Ring Road through the site of the old library, that a general specification was agreed. The library and the BMI building were demolished (the BMI moving to premises a short distance to the east), and the site was part of the Birmingham Conservatoire and its gardens (until the Conservatoire was relocated to Birmingham City University's City Centre campus in Eastside in 2017, following

1551-619: The redevelopment of Paradise Circus.) The 1970s Central Library was constructed on a site originally occupied by Mason Science College and Liberal Club. The new Central Library opened on 12 January 1974. It was designed by John Madin , a Birmingham-based architect. Its inverted ziggurat form was a powerful example of the Brutalist style. With the Rotunda and the Alpha Tower , it became one of Birmingham's key Modernist buildings. Madin designed

1598-409: The roads. The School of Music and a public house (The Yardbird) were the only other buildings in the original plans to be built and the high level walkways were never completed. The Central Library consisted of two elements: the extrovert lending library and the introvert reference library. The lending library was designed for heavy use and short visits. It formed a wing to the reference library and

1645-520: The south side. The carvings of the capitals and the crocketted spire were done by Samuel Barfield of Leicester , John Henry Chamberlain's favourite sculptor. Salviati Burke and Co. of Venice were commissioned to do the mosaics after their success with the Birmingham Council House . It is Grade II listed . The plaque on the monument reads: This memorial is erected in gratitude for public service given to this town by Joseph Chamberlain who

1692-410: The start of significant exterior demolition. On 28 January 2016 the curved facade of the lending library began to be demolished and completed on 25 April 2016. The glass roof of the internal atrium was removed on 26 February 2016. At the beginning of August 2016 the link bridge to the museum was removed and the majority of the library building was demolished. Several campaign groups were set up to save

1739-680: Was built between the School of Music and the reference library block in 1983–86. The theatre was a design and build scheme by Henry Boot Projects. Although the design was in Madin's original plans, Madin did not approve of the design and build method and subsequently had no involvement in the building. Chamberlain House and the Copthorne Hotel were built to the west of the library in 1985–87 by Leonard J. Multon & Partners with wedge shaped ends. To

1786-618: Was chosen to represent the location of MI5 HQ in BBC series The Game . Friends of Central Library presented an alternative plan to the council and its developers which retained the library at the centre of the Paradise Circus scheme. It argued that the library could be used for a range of alternative uses and demolition after 40 years went against all principles of sustainability . However Birmingham City Council , Birmingham Civic Society , CABE and Argent strongly opposed any plans to retain

1833-413: Was closed to pedestrians and Chamberlain Square was fenced off in preparation for external demolition. The first visible external demolition to the main library building began on 6 November 2015. On 15 November 2015 the road tunnel beneath the library permanently closed to traffic for demolition to progress. On 14 December 2015 the first exterior concrete panels to the reference library were removed to mark

1880-508: Was completely glazed behind deep concrete balconies; this arrangement was to make it conducive to study. Although there was good natural light, the design was an early recognition of solar gain and the damage it can cause to books. The large windows of the reference library face inwards to reduce traffic noise from the Inner Ring road . On the outside the windows were high level narrow strips with black anodised window frames. The space below

1927-608: Was elected Town Councillor in November 1869, Mayor in November 1873, and resigned that office in June 1876 on being returned as one of the representatives of the Borough of Birmingham in Parliament. And during whose Mayoralty many great public works were notably advanced. And mainly by whose ability & devotion the Gas & Water Undertakings were acquired for the town to the great and lasting benefit of

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1974-410: Was named Paradise Forum, originally proposed as an alfresco eating and entertainment area, but eventually leased to property companies who sublet the units to shops and fast food outlet tenants. The uncompleted bus interchange became service areas for the tenants of Paradise Forum. In 1999 the whole of Paradise Forum was sold off to Argent now known as Argent (Property Development) Services LLP. In 1999,

2021-478: Was of three storeys with a curved façade facing the Town Hall. The reference library was an eight-storey square block designed around an open atrium above a public square that was designed to be entered from four sides. Above the square floated the cantilevered floors of the library in a distinctive inverted ziggurat formation. The designers drew inspiration for the design from Antonio Sant'Elia 's drawings of Casa

2068-474: Was offered by Alan Maudsley , the City Architect, and accepted by the council as an economy measure. The entrance hall, which was double height between the lending and reference libraries, was entirely glazed on the side facing the atrium – an early example of a freestanding wall made of toughened glass . Before later developments the wall allowed the entrance to be flooded with light and provided views of

2115-464: Was saved from demolition and listed at Grade II in September 2013; however dialogue on the demolition of the Central Library did not progress. A fresh appreciation of the library began to emerge as the Council declared their intention to demolish it. The movement was led by artists and writers mainly of the 1960s generation who had grown up with it. Jonathan Meades appreciated the "guts and attack" of

2162-469: Was situated until September 2007. As part of the Paradise Circus development by Argent Group the square was re-landscaped and surrounding buildings demolished including the brutalist Birmingham Central Library and Paradise Forum (beneath the former reference library). In 2014 landscape architects, Grant Associates were awarded the contract to design the new public realm. The square reopened in March 2021 as

2209-491: Was supported on a square set of twelve reinforced concrete columns , built over the Inner Ring road and the uncompleted bus interchange. The bus bays imposed a 36 ft pier spacing on the main block, and led to the standardization of a 1 ft 6in module for the design. Concrete was strongly expressed within the building, the external finishes to structural elements being unclad reinforced concrete. The walls were ribbed, and

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