103 Colmore Row
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| 103 Colmore Row (Existing) | |
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| Building | |
|---|---|
| Type | Commercial |
| Architectural Style | Brutalist |
| Location | Colmore Row, Birmingham, England |
| Coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Construction | |
| Started | 1973 |
| Completed | 1976 |
| Height | 80m (262ft) |
| Floor Count | 23 |
| Design Team | |
| Architect | John Madin |
| 103 Colmore Row (Proposed) | |
| Information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Colmore Row, Birmingham, England |
| Coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Status | Proposed |
| Use | Commercial |
| Height | |
| Antenna/Spire | 160 metres (525 ft) |
| Roof | 135 metres (443 ft) |
| Floor count | 28 |
| Companies | |
| Architect | Hamilton Architects |
| Developer | British Land |
103 Colmore Row (formerly known as National Westminster House) is a building on Colmore Row, Birmingham, England once owned by Natwest. It is now owned by the developer British Land who intend to demolish and replace the tower with a 163 metre office skyscraper.
Contents |
[edit] Current building
The building was designed by John Madin and is of Brutalist architecture. The colour scheme is very similar to that of The McLaren Building also in Birmingham. It is brown and dark green and forms a prominent part of the Birmingham skyline. It is also one of the newest and tallest buildings in the Colmore Conservation Area, and is a frequent perching point for the city centre's Peregrine Falcons.
Designs for the building were first aired to the public in 1964 and it was remarked that it had drawn inspiration from the University of Pittsburgh by Louis Kahn. Construction began in 1973 and was completed three years later. The original metal doors remain with the abstract triangle design, based on the NatWest logo, intact. The exterior is covered in abstract plaster murals and bronze matt ceramic tiles. The concrete coffered ceiling is covered in gold leaf. The lift shaft and two ventilation towers are constructed using brick.[1] There are four plant floors at the top of the tower and 100 car park spaces in a basement car park that has been left disused upon the discovery of asbestos.
A planning application was submitted to Birmingham City Council in late-2005 for the redevelopment of the tower. However, this is only a fraction of the entire area scheduled for redevelopment.
[edit] Proposed replacement
The tower was bought by British Land in January 2007. They announced their intentions to demolish the tower and replace it with another.[2] Between October 9 and October 11, 2007, British Land and Hamilton Architects hosted a public consultation in the banking hall to 103 Colmore Row to showcase the designs for the tower they want to construct on the site. The proposed office tower will be 163 metres (534.8 ft) tall to the top of a light mast and consist of 28 occupiable office floors and three plant levels.[3] The tower would be the tallest building in the city, only surpassed by the proposed VTP200. It will have a roof height of 137 metres. GVA Grimley have been hired as planning consultants and the project will cost £160 million.[4]
A planning application was submitted to Birmingham City Council on April 29, 2008. The proposed tower was very similar to the design exhibited in October 2007, although the new design had a further four floors of reception and retail space with the Colmore Row elevation consisting of a four storey colonnade. The light mast will extend from ground level to 25 metres (82 ft) above the roof level, giving the building a total height of 160 metres. As it is proposed to be constructed on the highest ground in the city centre, it will be one of the most prominent buildings on the skyline. The tower will also have a green roof to act as a natural habitat for protected bird species and will also provide a 30% reduction in energy use.[5]
The building received the backing of the Birmingham Civic Society, however the Victorian Society commented that they were "extremely disappointed" with the proposal. Savills will market the building.[5]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Shaping the Seventies: 1970s Architecture in Birmingham
- ^ British Land snaps up NatWest building - Birmingham Post, Jan 17 2007
- ^ £160 million office plan for NatWest site - Birmingham Post, October 8 2007 (Accessed October 8, 2007)
- ^ SkyscraperNews: 103 Colmore Row
- ^ a b Paul Dale (2008-04-29). Plans revealed for new Colmore Row tower. Birmingham Post. Retrieved on 2008-04-29.
- Laughing all the way to the bank Emporis.com (Submitted 2007-04-03)
[edit] External links
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