Stunning architecture across Birmingham - modern & classic!

Birmingham is a great example of a city undergoing huge change that recognises the importance of showcasing its history whilst looking to the future. This is no more evident than in the city's mix of stunning architecture, with modern and classic sitting in harmony.

Here is the first of many articles in our ongoing showcase of Birmingham's wonderful architecture.

Architecture has always been a passion of BirminghamWeAre. Now, we aim to grow it as a huge passion across our Community.

For this feature, we have been joined by so many of Birmingham's 'People with Passion' to create a wonderful gallery that will grow and grow as we continue to share our passion for great architecture with people who live in, work in and visit this great City.  

Here's a selection to demonstrate just how well our modern builds can sit in harmany with architecture that has helped shape this great city over many years. 

Let's start with some art and creativity - in, believe it or not, Lego! Yes, Legoland Birmingham have come up with a wonderful and creative way of showcasing this wonderful City and its architecture.

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Legoland Birmingham. Photo by Gum Kenth.

 

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Legoland Birmingham. Photo by Gum Kenth.

 

Let's now turn to the actual architecture itself. Here's just a brief look at what's on offer across Birmingham. 

So much more to admire from our 'People with Passion'. Connect here to view our even larger gallery of photography, all from Birmingham's 'People with Passion'. 

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Selfridges and St Martin's Church, Birmingham. Photo by Daniel Sturley.

 

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Mailbox, Birmingham. Photo by Tammie Naughton.

 

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Birmingham's Council House and Library. Photo by Daniel Sturley.

 

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Hotel Du Vin, Birmingham. Photo by Christine Wright.

 

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Bank Tower Two and the Bank, Birmingham. Photo by Daniel Sturley.

 

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The Cube from Gas Street Basin. Photo by Damien Walmsley.

 

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Canal House, Gas Street Basin. Photo by Fay Loewy.

 

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HSBC Retail HQ, Birmingham. Photo by Daniel Sturley.

 

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Hyatt and Cube, Birmingham. Photo by Daniel Sturley.

 

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Hyatt, Birmingham. Photo by Daniel Sturley.

 

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St Phillips Cathedral, Birmingham. Photo by Damien Walmsley. 

 

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Classic architecture reflections in Baskerville House. Photo by Daniel Sturley.

 

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Along the canal. Photo by Raj Sanghera. 

 

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Margaret Street, Birmingham. Photo by Victoria Ball.

 

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Victoria Square, Birmingham. Photo by Raj Sanghera.

 

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'Old Joe', Birmingham University. Photo by Tammie Naughton.

 

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One Chamberlain Square, Birmingham. Photo by Daniel Sturley.

 

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Grand Central, Birmingham. Photo by 'Mac' McCreery.

 

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Selfridges, Birmingham. Photo by Imran Ali Bashir.

 

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Bullring, Birmingham. Photo by Imran Ali Bashir.

 

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The Cube, Birmingham. Photo by Imran Ali Bashir.

 

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Birmingham University, Birmingham. Photo by Christine Wright.

 

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BT Tower, Birmingham. Photo by Barry Whitehead.

 

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Rotunda, Birmingham. Photo by Barry Whitehead.

 

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Library of Birmingham and Rep Theatre. Photo by Tammie Naughton.

 

There are some wonderful partnership and advertising opportunities available at BirminghamWeAre. Take a look HERE and then connect with us to discuss further.

To be part of our growing 'People with Passion', connect with us HERE.

Calthorpe Estates: Edgbaston - a selection of Georgian / Regency / Victorian villas / town houses

Edgbaston the picture perfect suburb of Birmingham has long been managed by the Calthorpe Estates. You would see around white houses dating back to the Georgian and Regency periods, as well as from the Victorian era. Mostly the area between the Hagley Road, Harborne Road, Calthorpe Road and Church Road (and the connecting roads in the area).

St George's School Edgbaston

Located at 31 Calthorpe Road. A Grade II listed building dates to 1835. Was formerly the Edgbaston College for Girls. Mainly includes a large formerly detached Grecio-Egyptian villa. Extended in 1883-86 on the foundation of the college. The school additions were by the architect J. A. Chatwin.

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27 and 28 Calthorpe Road

In 2015 this was occupied by the RoSPA. Grade II listed building, a pair of three storey semi-detached stucco Calthorpe Estate villas built in 1830. No 27 was altered in 1850.

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37 and 38 Calthorpe Road

A pair of semi-detached stucco 2 storey villas built in 1835, they are Grade II listed. Canted pilaster bay windows was added in 1860. Otto Robert Frisch and Rudolf Peierls lived at no 38 while they were working at the University of Birmingham on nuclear research which led to the first atomic bomb (this was from February to March 1940).

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41, 42 and 43 Calthorpe Road

This is a pair of semi-detached stucco faced Calthorpe Estate villas built in 1830, they are Grade II listed buildings. In 2015 WPR was at no 43. Canted bay windows were added in 1860.

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3 and 4 Highfield Road

A pair of semi detached houses built in 1830. Stucco in the late Regency style. Some parts were later added in 1860. J. R. R. Tolkien lived at no 4 from 1910 until 1911. It is now the Highfield Day Nursery and Preschool

More more on J R R Tolkien see this post J.R.R. Tolkien's Birmingham (inspiration for The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings.

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The Edgbaston - 18 Highfield Road

This is a Grade II listed building at 18 and 19 Highfield Road in Edgbaston. Built in 1840 it is a pair of symmetrical classical stucco villas. The right hand ground floor window of no 18 was replaced sometime between 1880 and 1890. There is coach house at no 18. The coach house at no 19 had been rebuilt. The Edgbaston is a Boutique Hotel & Cocktail Lounge.

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Simpsons Restaurant - 20 Highfield Road

This property dates to 1840 and is Grade II listed. A large detached stucco villa. It's front entrance is on Westbourne Crescent. The rear on Highfield Road dates to 1855. Simpsons Restaurant was founded in 1993 by two chefs and it is one of Birmingham's restaurans with a Michelin Star.

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The Highfield - 22 Highfield Road

The Highfield is a gastro pub that opened in recent years. Owned by the Peach family. The building is not listed, but it still retains an old sundial to the left! They modified the building removing two side doors that used to be there before.

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26 Highfield Road

This property doesn't appear to be listed, but it has a blue plaque on it from the Birmingham Civic Society. Edward Richard Taylor (1838 - 1912) was an art teacher and William Howson Taylor (1876 - 1935) was a potter. They both lived here. The plaque was also presented by the Calthorpe Estates Residents Society.

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Boston Tea Party - 30 Harborne Road

Boston Tea Party had originally hoped to open a cafe in Moseley, but the site they wanted later went to Prezzo (which was later replaced by Sorrento Lounge). Edgbaston is probably a better location for them here anyway. This building is not listed.

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The Physician - 36 Harborne Road

The original building is over 180 years old dating to the 1830s. The BMI (Birmingham Medical Institute) was in this building from 1954 until their lease ran out in 2013. Later turned into a pub The Physician opened in 2016. The building is believed to have housed the 'Sampson Gangee Library for the History of Medicine' possibly commissioned in 1863 by Calthorpe Estates. It's on the corner with Highfield Road.

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38 Harborne Road

Every Christmas the Calthorpe Estates places these Christmas reindeers at various places around Edgbaston. This property dates to about 1835 and is close to the corner with Highfield Road. There is a coach house to the left. It's a Grade II listed building.

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105 Harborne Road

There is a blue plaque on this house for Francis Brett Young from the Birmingham Civic Society and the Francis Brett Young Society. A novelist, poet and physician, who lived here from 1905-6. The house itself is Grade II listed and dates to 1830. A pair of identical stucco houses. Both of the houses here have coach houses (now just garages).

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Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Birmingham in Lego! Wow - just stunning!

Gum Kenth, Museum Manager at Birmingham Museum & Arts Gallery, kindly shares with us the pics he took on his tour of the City of Birmingham at Legoland Birmingham - what a great advert for the City! So imaginative and a great showcase of how modern & classic architecture can sit so well side by side.  

Take the full article for more great photos. 

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