Editing Birmingham Central Library (section)

==Architecture==
[[File:BCL74.jpg|thumb|right|The library under construction in 1973.]]
The new Central Library opened on 12 January 1974. It was designed by [[John Madin]], a Birmingham-based architect.<ref>Merlin Fulcher [http://m.architectsjournal.co.uk/8624761.article "Obituary: John Madin (1924–2012)"] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130904072907/http://m.architectsjournal.co.uk/8624761.article |date=2013-09-04 }}, AJ Mobile (''Architects' Journal''), 11 January 2012</ref> Its inverted [[ziggurat]] form was a powerful example of the [[Brutalist architecture|Brutalist]] style. With the [[Rotunda (Birmingham)|Rotunda]] and the [[Alpha Tower]], it became one of Birmingham's key [[Modern architecture|Modernist]] buildings.

Madin designed the Central Library as part of a large [[Civic center|civic centre]] scheme on the newly created [[Paradise Circus, Birmingham|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.<ref name=R3>{{Citation | last =John H D Madin & Partners|title=Civic Centre redevelopment – Paradise Circus, report on Central Library scheme design, prepared by John H.D. Madin and Partners in association with J.A. Maudsley| publisher = Birmingham |year=1966 }}</ref> The collection of civic buildings were all to be connected by high level walkways and the network of galleries which bridge the roads. [[Birmingham Conservatoire|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.<ref name=R6>{{Citation |last=Clawley |first=Alan|title=John Madin (20th century architect)|publisher=RIBA Publishing |year=2011 | isbn =978-1-85946-367-3}}</ref>

[[File:Birmingham Central Library - Desks-1.jpg|thumb|left|One of the reading rooms in the Reference Library]]
The Central Library consisted of two elements: the extrovert lending library and the introvert reference library.<ref name=R2/> The lending library was designed for heavy use and short visits. It formed a wing to the reference library and was of three storeys with a curved façade facing the Town Hall.<ref name=R6/><ref name=R7/> 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.<ref name=R6/> Above the square floated the [[cantilever]]ed floors of the library in a distinctive inverted ziggurat formation.<ref name=R6/> The designers drew inspiration for the design from [[Antonio Sant'Elia]]'s drawings of Casa a gradinata, and [[Marcel Breuer]]'s 1928 scheme for a hospital in [[Elberfeld]], Germany; while another source of inspiration was [[Leslie Martin|Leslie Martin's]] [[Bodleian Law Library]] in [[Oxford]].<ref name=R6/> 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.<ref name=R6/>

The central atrium 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.<ref name=R6/> The large windows of the reference library face inwards to reduce traffic noise from the [[A4400 road|Inner Ring road]].<ref name=R7/> On the outside the windows were high level narrow strips with black [[Anodizing|anodised]] window frames.<ref name=R6/><ref name=R7/> The space below 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.<ref name=R5/> Six pools were to be placed in and around this square.<ref name=R7>{{Citation |last=Birmingham Public Libraries|title=Design Team Report|publisher=Birmingham |year=1973 }}</ref> 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.<ref name=R6/>

[[File:Chamberlain Square Birmingham 14-08-83.jpg|thumb|right|The library from Chamberlain Square in 1983]]
The structure was supported on a square set of twelve [[reinforced concrete column]]s, built over the Inner Ring road and the uncompleted bus interchange.<ref name=R6/> The bus bays imposed a 36&nbsp;ft pier spacing on the main block, and led to the standardization of a 1&nbsp;ft 6in module for the design.<ref name=R2/> Concrete was strongly expressed within the building, the external finishes to structural elements being unclad reinforced concrete. The walls were ribbed, and the locally graded round aggregate was exposed by [[abrasive blasting]].<ref name=R2/><ref name=R7/> The floors were made of precast concrete coffered units over which a reinforced concrete floor was cast.<ref name=R7/> For the cladding Madin offered the council a choice of [[Portland stone]] or [[Travertine|Travertine Marble]] to align with the adjacent civic buildings. A third, cheaper option was pre-cast concrete with [[Hopton Wood stone|Hoptonwood limestone]] and Derbyshire spar aggregate with [[White Portland cement|white cement]]: this was offered by [[City Architect of Birmingham|Alan Maudsley]], the City Architect, and accepted by the council as an economy measure.<ref name=R2/><ref name=R6/>

[[File:BCL 1970 Interior.jpg|thumb|left|The central atrium showing one of the six pools; this area later became Paradise Forum]]
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]].<ref name=R6/> Before later developments the wall allowed the entrance to be flooded with light and provided views of the [[Birmingham Town Hall|Town Hall]] from the escalators.<ref name=R6/>

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.<ref name=R7/> Storage of the volumes was on the same level as the reading areas: this dual function led to the low ceiling height of three metres.<ref name=R6/> 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.<ref name=R7/>

When built, the Central Library provided approximately 23.300 m<sup>2</sup> (250,000&nbsp;ft<sup>2</sup>) of floor space, making it the largest non-national municipal library in Europe.<ref name=R7/> It was specifically designed for a long life and to stand hard wear with low maintenance costs.<ref name=R7/>

===Later developments===
[[File:BCL 1970s.jpg|thumb|right|The curved facade of the Lending Library, circa 1975]]
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.<ref name=R6/>

The 200 seat Library Theatre was built between the School of Music and the reference library block in 1983&ndash;86. The theatre was a [[Design–build|design and build]] scheme by Henry Boot Projects.<ref name=R6/> 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.<ref name=R6/> Chamberlain House and the Copthorne Hotel were built to the west of the library in 1985&ndash;87 by Leonard J. Multon & Partners with wedge shaped ends.<ref name=R2/>

To the north of the library, where an Athletic Institute was originally to stand, a six-storey office block was built in 1988&ndash;89 by Leonard J. Multon & Partners.<ref name=R2/> A footbridge connecting the library with [[Centenary Square]] was added as part of improvements to the square in 1988&ndash;89. The atrium was enclosed with a glass roof and screens by the [[City Architect of Birmingham|City Architect's Department]] in 1989&ndash;91.<ref name=R2/> The space below 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, a member of the public was almost hit by a small piece of concrete that fell from a cladding panel.<ref name=R5>{{Citation |url=http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/Images/brumlib.pdf |title=An appreciation of the Central Library a 20th entry Icon| publisher =thestirrer.co.uk}}</ref> Concerns over the condition of the pre-cast cladding panels required the installation of netting to retain any further erosion.<ref name=R5/> 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.<ref name=R2/> In July 2010, 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. [[Charles, Prince of Wales|Prince Charles]], in his 1988 television documentary and book ''[[A Vision of Britain: A Personal View of Architecture|A Vision of Britain]]'', described the building as resembling "a place where books are incinerated, not kept".<ref>Alastair Jamieson [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/5317802/The-Prince-of-Wales-on-architecture-his-10-monstrous-carbuncles.html "The Prince of Wales on architecture: his 10 'monstrous carbuncles'"], telegraph.co.uk, 13 May 2009</ref> In October 2011 the [[World Monuments Fund]] included the Central Library on its watch list of significant buildings at risk.<ref>[http://www.wmf.org/project/british-brutalism 2012 World Monuments Watch: British Brutalism], World Monuments Fund, Spring 2012.</ref>