Tag: interesting architecture

May 8th – I’m fascinated by the Selfridges building that forms part of the Bullring in Birmingham. I’m intrigued by the curves, textures and interaction with the surrounding environment.

It’s a brave, bold piece of architecture, and I love it. I’m particularly fond of the car park link walkway, which looks like something from a 1960s sic-fi film.

It’s a surprisingly local affair. Built and project managed by Midlanders, The discs, freshly cleaned this year, were anodised in Walsall. 

You either love it or hate it, but it can’t be ignored.

April 28th – I’ve not really studied this old, derelict mill on the canal at Rugeley before, but it’s quite fascinating, actually. Built in 1863, it’s older than I expected, and I’m interested in its history. Most intriguing are the metal canopies installed awkwardly below the upper row of windows. Wonder what their purpose was?

February 28th – I mentioned last week (at least, I think it was last week…) that Walsall has some really interesting architecture above street level. Making it back to Walsall in the daylight, I took a quick scoot around. Chineys, on Park Street – when did they last see smoke? The mosaics, still on the front of the former Priory Hotel. Crests, cupolas and cornices. The Edwars Moore building is beautiful from the front, in Leicester Street (look at the upstairs windows), but equally so from the rear. There’s fantastic detail in those chimneys. Yet the building is scarcely noticed.

Walsall still has some gems.

February 27th – I hopped on a train whose first stop was Spring Road. This isn’t too far from where I go in Tyseley, and it means I cycle the backstreets of Hall Green suburbia. Here is the impressive, monolithic Aero Engine Controls factory. I believe this used to be part of the Lucas empire, but could be wrong. It’s a huge site and the 1930s offices and grand front entrance belie the optimism of the early days of flight in the interwar period.

It’s easy to think we don’t manufacture much in the UK anymore. We do; there’s loads going on. We just don’t talk about it, and sites like this stay hidden and relatively unknown.

February 19th – A couple of snatched, quick photos in Walsall this evening, proving why we should always look up, especially in towns. Stood outside of the Saddlers Centre in Park Street, I was putting on my gloves, and idly studying the roof-line. Never notices the balustrade around the very top of WH Smiths, or the lion head corbel on the building next door, which has some very handsome windows.

I think it’s time to go exploring…

February 8th – At the other end of the architectural spectrum is Silver Court. An odd, split level building, it’s one of the last untouched remnants of sixties-era Wimpey system construction that were so ubiquitous here, although this isn’t a full system build. At the lowest level are garages, at the rear; split level, above are a parade of shops. Split level again, at the rear, there’s an access pathway over the garage roofs to maisonette-style houses above the shops. It’s one of the oddest, most quirky designs I’ve ever seen, and in many ways is deserves recording as an exemplar of what happened when system build was expanded beyond it’s narrow confines. On the other hand, it’s harsh, dark and badly constructed.

On a damp winter’s night, the sodium lighting, hard suffices and dark corners make for very atmospheric photos.

February 8th – Just a short ride today. I shot up through a deserted Brownhills at 8:30pm to clear my head. As I approached Anchor Bridge, I stopped to look at the new developments there. Houses are still being built on one side, but on the other, Knaves Court looks impressive in the night. A sort of sheltered living complex for the elderly, it seems to have a fine community and high regard. I love the modernity of the building, and the boldness of the colours employed in it’s render.

A fine place.

February 4th – At the other end of the journey, an hour and a half later, I noticed the hazy sun was out, and in it’s own way, Telford looked quite impressive. I’m not fond of the mirror-glass architecture thing myself, but it does look quite monolithic here. The station itself – recently refurbished – looked OK too, although it seems to be just a bit of a superficial tart-up. 

I haven’t been here for a good while. It’s nice to be somewhere different. It’s not like coming home, but I do feel a certain attachment; like meeting an old drinking pal or forgotten workmate.

For all the stick I give it, I’m quietly fond of Telford.

January 25th – I wanted to get asian snacks in for my workmates as a treat. The best place near to Tyseley is Mukhtar’s, in Small Heath, so on the way to work this morning I hopped off the train one stop early. I discovered the shop didn’t take debit card payments, so dived onto Small Heath High Street to use the ATM. I was struck – as I always am here – by the imperious nature of the architecture, repurposed for mundane shops and bedsits. 

Today, Small Heath is a bustling, busy, inner city suburb, teaming with life and a very, very diverse population. But when these places were built, what was it like then? Genteel? Gentrified? Semi Rural?
Look at the wrought iron, arches and architraves. Appreciate the gables, towers and bays.

Curse the fact that few ever look up and notice.

December 17th – Small Heath is great. I love the crowded, busy streets, and I love the air of frantic commerce. Where once the asians were the newcomers here – there’s a considerable muslim community – the newcomers now are largely Eastern European and African, and they seem to be bringing their own shops, cultures and languages. I love the feeling of worlds melding together. Streets of crowded terraces, factory units and the odd remarkable building. This one – displaying tragically the malaise of the stopped public clock – was clearly a pub, but I know nothing about it. Sat proudly on the corner of Anderton Road and Montgomery Street, it’s a landmark from the train. I hope it has a secure future.