design
for life
REGENERATION
changing
places
TO sUcceed in Transforming The
looK, fEEl AND fORTuNES Of A TOWN
OR CITY TAkES A TRulY MulTIDISCIPlINARY
APPROACH. GET IT RIGHT AND IT CAN SET
IN MOTION long-Term change WITH
MASSIvE SOCIAl AND ECONOMIC BENEfITS.
44 The UK’s second largest city, Birmingham, was and opening up the centre with a series of public with a visionary design to look carefully at how the
the workshop of the world, but its success was routes.” Moving east to west, pedestrians can now building interfaces with the rest of the city.”
also its downfall. amble from Brindley Place, along canals lined with
During the sixties and seventies, a flurry of con- vibrant restaurants and bars, past the International Everything in its right place
struction in the city centre brought valuable commer- Convention Centre, across Centenary Square, and Context is crucial in any regeneration project, agrees
cial activity and easy access by road, but for pedestri- down to the bustling markets of St Martins. Stephen Cox, head of Atkins’ regeneration and eco-
ans it became inaccessible and unfriendly. Arrive into New Street station, however, and that nomic development team in north England, within
Construction of the inner ring road, in particular, passage gets a less than auspicious start; visitors must the planning, landscape and heritage business. “You
divided the city. Stifled by what is known locally as cut through the aging shopping centre above in order can’t just start to build something without first under-
the concrete collar, lacking cohesion and with a neg- to exit the station. “New Street is a fundamental gate- standing how it will fit into the surrounding environ-
ative image, the city went into manufacturing way to the city, but it remains pretty much impenetra- ment,” he says. “It’s those projects that fail to get
decline. Birmingham became synonymous with con- ble to the urban fabric,” says Wright. “Our challenge local support and end up as white elephants.”
crete, shady underpasses and noisy traffic. is to open up that last link to the city and make the Respect for context is especially important when
It’s a far cry from the city residents are so proud of station more permeable at city level.” an area or its immediate surroundings already has
today, with its world-class cultural and business ven- The proposed design will open up the space in a strong character. “The cultural and architectural
ues, juxtaposition of glass-fronted offices and red cross shape, the centre of which will be a public space assets of an area can provide the strongest starting
brick heritage, and immaculate squares and canals. with the look and feel of an airline terminal. The point for your plans,” says Richard Alvey, managing
“The changing point in Birmingham’s fortunes project kick-started in April, with construction due to director of Atkins’ planning, landscape and heritage
came in 1988, when local politicians, business leaders, take place between 2009 and 2011. business. Alvey was part of the team tasked with
architects and planners met to discuss possible solu- “The people of Birmingham have really warmed to regenerating the centre of Burslem, a town in the
tions to the city’s problems,” says Atkins’ Noelle high impact designs such as the Bull Ring, so we want heart of England’s Potteries, which, despite econom-
Wright, the architect leading the current development New Street to have a real wow factor,” says Wright. ic decline, retains much of its original architectural
plans for Birmingham New Street railway station. With funding from a number of regional organisa- charm. The project, therefore, had to respect that
“The resulting action plan, known as the Highbury tions, there’s a heavy regional commitment to the individual character, while breathing new life and
Initiative, was crucial in identifying a workable strategy long-awaited project, not to mention high hopes potential into the town. “Consultation with local
for change. In particular, it set down plans to create a among local people. “We’ll be working closely with stakeholders formed a significant part of the
whole new public realm, removing the concrete collar the people of Birmingham,” says Wright. “And also project,” says Alvey. “We needed to identify and
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52