The reading uses historiography to discuss the changes in Birmingham’s architecture. Analysing in detail the alterations made in post war Britain, the piece reflects on buildings as ways of symbolisations and planned developments.
Not knowing Birmingham that well, I found the reading really insightful, because as an outsider when I think of Birmingham city centre, I visualise concrete jungle style office blocks, bypasses and flyovers – spaghetti junction – and the bubbly Selfridges building! (How uncultured of me?!)
A main focus is the discussion of the Rotunda building as an iconic image of Birmingham’s skyline.
The architecture of England’s second city is criticised rather than praised, and there is an underlying bitter impression of the lost bid for the ‘Capital of Culture’ title.
The future of the city is that of a personal preference – you love it or hate it by either ‘promoting it – or resisting the change’ even for its inhabitants. The city centre is bustling with modern buildings, Brindley Place and the developments around the canal side featuring popular shops and restaurants that accommodate the hoard of yuppies and tourists whom frequent the area.
Advert campaigns have been designed specifically for its target audience - The Bull Ring endorsements are described as follows – “By way of contrast, the officially endorsed imagery of the coming, reinvigorated Bull Ring is presented in a gloriously vibrant colour. One series of images – readily available on the websites, around the city and on printed promotional literature – features a stylishly dressed and choreographed model. A key banner presents an extreme close-up of the model’s mini-skirted thighs as she purposefully strides past the photographer’s lens (see Figure 4).She is, no doubt, on her way to shop. The emphasis here is upon youth and beauty and – as befits the stereotypical associations of retail and consumption– on femininity”.
A useful piece of writing which provides insightful information, which could also be adapted to talk about the architecture of every city.
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