Ok, I introduce you to Birmingham, Englnd. Its britains second largest city and currently holds the title of Britains second city. It has a city population of 970,000 with a metro population of just under 3,000,000.

It is located in the heart of England with nearly all of Britains main transports going through it. As a result, the city has started to get a bad repution for long traffic jams, huge train delays and bad public transport. However, this is now changing.

Birmingham is under going a huge transformation. Nearly all of the 1960's architecture is being demolitished allowing the city to expand. This has lead rise to a number of developments, around 20 of which are high-rise. These include the controversial Arena Central Scheme and the Holloway Circus Tower.

This is due to the city council trying to improve the Birmingham skyline to compare with other european cities such as Frankfurt. However, now that things have changed, that vision is a long way off, but the ouncil are still keen to encourage skyscrapers. What ever happenes, with the tallest tower being 520ft, this can only improve what i believe to be the second best skyline in Britain. So what do you all think?

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/skyline/kingston0505.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/skyline/skyline_small1.jpg

http://tinypic.com/55nlw9

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/708/490skyline.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/796BirminghamSelfridges_pic1.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/743BirminghamatNight_pic1.jpg

http://tinypic.com/29h89v

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/jakemidlands/birminghamtest00411web.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/skyline/may2005.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/154AlphaTower_pic1.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/153HollowayCircusTower_pic12.jpg


http://tinypic.com/2mahb8

http://tinypic.com/2mahjq

http://tinypic.com/54gkts


http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/bullring180903/sel6.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/bullring180903/sel3.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/bringsep03/openingday%20025.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/bullring180903/street3.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/bullring180903/fcuk.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/bullring180903/leslie.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/bullring180903/nandos.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/newst/chCanonStreet.JPG

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/newst/waterstones2.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/corpst/chTheOldSquare.JPG

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/corpst/chbullst.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/citycenter/gtwestern1.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/citycenter/chOldContempt.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/citycenter/alex.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/broadst/radiocafe.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/broadst/merchant.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/broadst/edwards2.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/broadst/figureof8.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/broadst/cafe2.jpg

http://tinypic.com/2mb3n4

http://tinypic.com/2mb3m9

http://tinypic.com/54gdqt

http://tinypic.com/54g804

http://tinypic.com/54g86s

http://tinypic.com/54g8r6

http://tinypic.com/54gbqs

http://tinypic.com/54gbwo

http://tinypic.com/54gbbo

http://tinypic.com/54gbjm

http://tinypic.com/54gnth

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/broadst/brasshouse2.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/broadst/hardrock.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/broadst/fairfa.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/broadst/ipanema.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/broadst/flares.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/icc/ikon.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/broadst/allbar1.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/ChinaTown/ChungYingGarden.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/guests/avolkes/oldorleans.jpg

http://tinypic.com/54f21u

http://tinypic.com/4tlsf6

http://tinypic.com/4lppbs

http://tinypic.com/4lp0k7

ok, does that fact that no-one has replied to this thread mean that many of you are not at all ipressed. o with skylines on an international stage...its nothin but on a british stage, it aint bad!

No, no, no. This is easily one of britains best. Coming into New Street from the north it looks so dense.
It is a wee bit flat though, from a distance. (ie. the hi-rises all look the same height.)

Brum's skyline is pretty good really - though nothing like as good as it could and should be.

Its towers aren't very high, but there are a lot of them, they're mostly reasonably high quality design-wise, and most of them are built along the top of a ridge, so they can look fairly spectacular from some angles.

Maybe not world class, but as a skyline it compares well to most European Cities of its size (apart from Frankfurt, obviously). There are some impressive proposals for new towers at the moment too, so hopefully it'll get a bit of height to supplement its density.

A population of a million and that's it? Is there something I'm missing? ->4/10

The Phoenix of England! ;)

6/10

maybe your missing the fact that , despite being the uk second city...birmingham often gets a raw deal from the rest of the country....the problem with the uk is that every thing is geared to revolve around london...if it aint in london then its not worth bothering with kind of attitude....of course london is a great city ,but there are others such as birmingham and manchester who deserve to be recognised. Both are currently going through major changes and birmingham in particular has a lot of plans for high rises (including the uks tallest ,although this is currently under threat despite having planning permission) to transform the skyline into one worthy of a 1 000 000 population city and one of europes finnest...as it stands though this is still one of the uks best for high rises!

why is it so supprised to people that Birmingham has a population of just under 1 million. its quite funny really, all of a sudden, people has stumbled across an english city that they had bever really thought about to start with and it shocks them!

I always class all of the West Midlands as being the metro area of Birmingham - giving the city a metro population of 3 million! The city itself is more or less 1 million. The population is stable (increasing in some areas of the city, decreasing in others). I'm sure that some people in Wolverhampton or Coventry would argue the point that their cities are independant. But Birmingham is the largest city in the West Midlands by far.

Although 3 million sounds a lot... that's only 20% of London's 15 million... now you see why London is the city which attracts most attention in the UK. It's the biggest.

I gave B'ham 7.5 :)

coventry is not included in the birmingham metro population. it is a totally independant city from birmingham......like.......manchester and liverool

Coventry is in the old West Midlands county boundary (sorry to all those who don't understand what we are talking about). I guess you could say that it is independant, but still I would class it as being in Birmingham's metro area as people do commute from Coventry to Birmingham (and probably vice versa too).

yeah coventry and birmingham are in the same county but this does not mean that they are part of the same metro population. a metro population is the population of the urban area and coventry is not conected to birmingham.

this is like saying that southampton and bournemouth are the same metro area.....or bristol and bath, gloucester (cant spell) and cheltenham....which we know are not

The skyline is OK, but in this case taller is better. 6.5/10 I'd give it a 7 if it weren't so flat.

It doesn't look that bad although it seems rather boring to me. That's why I can't rate any higher than a 6....

nice! i think its better than most other ive seen.
8

Here's some more images:
http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/1245651.jpg http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/1245652.jpg http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/1195165.jpg
http://www.robgibb.co.uk/urbancontemporaries/skyline.jpg
http://www.robgibb.co.uk/urbancontemporaries/bigpre3.jpg
On an international scale, it's not much but on a European scale I think its not bad!

wow, last time i looked at this thread, only 9 people had voted. its good to see that so many people have vsited and that a majority of them have voted over 5/10!!!!

I spent some time in Birmingham in '95. It seemed, well, rather like an American city.

it's ok, not too many tall ones.

6.5/10

no many tall ones at the moment but plenty of plans over the next ten years or so to create a high rise skyline

For a city of that size, the skyline isn't that impressive... however it is typical for a european cities... since they aren't too skyscraper material... besides Frankfurt.

I give it a 6.5

i like the sky;ine of my fair city. i believe with London and other cities that alot of the buildings look the same. In Brum (nickname for Birmingham) they are quite the opposite.

A drab, dreary, boring skyline. It looks shoddy and old-fashioned. I'm glad to hear that ugly 1960s skyscrapers are being demolished and that there are plans for new skyscrapers. 3/10.

Sorry if my comments offend any forumers from Birmingham, but that's my honest opinion. The other thing to remember is that this is only a rating of the skyline. While the skyline is unimpressive, Birmingham may well be impressive in other departments.

neither brilliant nor crap. itll be much improved when the current crop of buildings are built though. i give it 6 out of 10

on a uk scale - 9/10

on a world scale - 5/10

i give it 6.5 for at least having a skyline. btw how tall is its tallest building?

pretty dissapointing. There are cities of 400k building the worlds tallest apartment building. 7.5

4/10. bermingham is famous for it's entic building.;)

there is one skyline pic of brum, i dunno how to put them up, maybe someone else can. its taken from around the airport side of brum (i think) on a sunny day, makes the city look really green too!!

More high-rise will be better
8/10

A picture taken form Kingston Hill Park, near St Andrews Football Ground.

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/skyline/kingston.jpg
www.virtualbrum.co.uk/skyline

http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/radgeog/metlink/2002/daily2002/11mar/cams/image/uk_birmingham.jpg

4.5 too short

5, way too short.

Although the view from that observatory was pretty sweet, the skyline really has no facal point, is not very dense, and is too short. There is, however, a nice variety of building styles. I give it a 6/10.

8.5/10, it may be somewhat lacking for a city with nearly a million residents, but I really do like it. I really like how the all the buildings are on that one main thoroughfare, all organized. They may be short, but all the buildings are attractive in my opinion. Currently, it's a very neat skyline with lovely little buildings and it still has immense potential. I'd love to visit Birmingham after I stop at my current favorite, Hong Kong. Power to Brum!

4.5
Still pretty small for what is supposed to be the UK's second city... what is wrong with this country? Why, despite living on a densely populated island, are we incapable of building upwards?? Is it something psychological?

Although it's pretty dense it looks like one big wall of 70 - 100 meter towers. And it needs a bit color, it's so grey.

Please, does anyone have some real big shots, 800x600 or something. Don't they have quality camera's in England ;). I won't vote till I've seen a real big shot of the centre.

i like it, i like the hyatt they have recently built too. 7

6/10


for a 3m metro, the main city could have some more hirises.

Originally posted by Fabio

6/10


for a 3m metro, the main city could have some more hirises.

True. It seems silly. A 3m metro in the US would have a great skyline. It should be the other way round, really. Land is plentiful over the pond, but it's at a premium here. It's small, dense islands like Britain that should have huuuuge skyscrapers.

Not bad - I was suprised when I first visted Birmingham. The density is high, but the city really lacks a decent focus and many of the buildings are rather boxy. Things should improve drastically in the coming years - 6.5/10

Birminghams Skyline will never be the same again...
http://www.bplphoto.co.uk/imagefiles/F23/samples/F23-251.jpg http://www.bplphoto.co.uk/imagefiles/F23/samples/F23-253.jpg http://www.bplphoto.co.uk/imagefiles/F23/samples/F23-250.jpg

The big yellow stick is now a cool shade of blue!
http://www.birmingham.org.uk/pictures/preview/living.jpg http://www.bplphoto.co.uk/imagefile/F23/samples/F23-325.jpg

6/10

i like this skyline, it has a varitey of tall buildings.

in the u.k its one off the best, but in the world, average

but with so many new structures being built its going to become such a international city, and hopefully wiht a few more 400-500ft towers it will become very iconic.

whats this about a tower called "JUPITOR" they say it will have 600 apartments, yet "HCT" has only 250, and that is 400ft!

like to hear more about this!

LADS, we need some more pictures of brum, done ina nice fashion!

Originally posted by spankymonkey
whats this about a tower called "JUPITOR" they say it will have 600 apartments, yet "HCT" has only 250, and that is 400ft!

!

I live in the first stage of Jupiter. It isnt a tower at all but in total has a large footprint hence the large number of apartments. HCT has an incredibly small foot print it really will be very sleek and slender.

Centenary Plaza (just finished) has a lot of apartments as well and is reasonably tall.

Even on a British scale I wuldn't rate Birmingham all that highly. OK for a British city it's quite tall and it has density. I however only give it a 6.5 on a British scale. My reason: It's way too boxy.
London is the only British skyline that beats it on height but there are much more interesting, more low rise skylines that piss all over Birmingham because they are just so much more interesting.
Let's be honest now, on a world scale it's not really worth mentioning so I'm giving it a 3.5 (as we're rating it on the world forums I'm giving it my ranking on a world scale) sorry Brummies.
That's my honest opinion on the skyline, however that does not reflect my opinion of the city at all. I haven't seen Birmingham properly and dispite all the negetive comments I've heard about it I think it looks like a great city. I'd like to visit some time. :D

Originally posted by mystad

I spent some time in Birmingham in '95. It seemed, well, rather like an American city.

Its a very different city to it was in 95.

Originally posted by Andrew

but there are much more interesting, more low rise skylines that piss all over Birmingham because they are just so much more interesting.
Let's be honest now, on a world scale it's not really worth mentioning so I'm giving it a 3.5 (as we're rating it on the world forums I'm giving it my ranking on a world scale) sorry Brummies.

I haven't seen Birmingham properly and dispite all the negetive comments I've heard about it I think it looks like a great city. I'd like to visit some time. :D

I agree with you that on a world scale Birmingham and all Uk skylines are very dismal, and your ranking of 3.5 is justified, when comparing B'ham to places like Chicago, Hong Kong, Singapore etc.

But I do not agree with your comment that other British skylines "piss" over birmingham's.

When you approach Birmingham form the motorway there is a visible skyline, which tells people that they are approaching a city. This skyline can be seen from miles around- even from the satelite cities like wolverhampton (from Parkfields), and Coventry.

This same concept does not apply when driving up to Newcastle or manchester, which have very few towers, and not a proper coherent skyline.

Birmingham has more towers and much greater density compared to all other UK cities (except London of course). With the construction of HCT (at 420ft), I would say Birmingham will piss over other UK skylines.

I just hope that HCT will persuade Mancunians to compete and build that 570ft tower, which is in the planning stages, without the british tradition of height reduction taking place before anything is built.

I agree with you that Birmingham's skyline isn't matched anywhere else in the UK (apart from London) in terms of height and distance it's visible from but I find it incredibly boring. You may be able to see it from a long distance (If you know what you're looking for you can see it from the M5 & M6)but it just looks like a series of boxes. Also, dispite the fact that by British standards it's tall, Birmingham's skyline is visible but not noticable from a distance because, for example, the view from the M5&6 is incredibly cluttered by highrise blocks of flats dominating the suburbs between the motorway and the city centre. As a result, you don't get the impression of a particularly high rise city centre as they all blend in together and you just see white and grey high rise blocks and no noticable cluster.
I say that there are other UK cities skylines that piss all over Birmingham's because while in this country we do not do height very well, we do have some spectacular historic skylines such as Edinburgh and Oxford. I rate these skylines much higher than Birmingham's. Also, remember I'm not saying that by British standards Birmingham's skyline is bad. On a UK scale I gave it 6.5, that's not bad, I didn't give it a higher score because it lacks interest. I don't believe that it will stay that way for long though. I know that there are many developments under construction and planned that will add interest to the skyline, and they're not all boxes which is good to see so once Birmingham gets some nice tall signature towers the skyline would easily go up a few points. It's a shame about Arena Central though, With the original design of that in the skyline plus everything that's going on at the moment I'd have given Birmingham an 8 on a UK scale and a 5.5 or maybe higher on a world scale.

Originally posted by Andrew
I say that there are other UK cities skylines that piss all over Birmingham's because while in this country we do not do height very well, we do have some spectacular historic skylines such as Edinburgh and Oxford.

But you are comparing ONLY Birmingham to historical skylines like oxford, edinburgh etc.

You have not mentioned how Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds compare to these cities in terms of historical spires, and old buildings.

At least birmingham has density, when put up against oxford- other british cities eg. Sheffield, Sunderland etc, do not even have what B'ham has and would be totally blown away by Oxford, in all categories.

If we are comparing skylines in terms of history, i would say that Athens, Rome, Venice, Prague, Vienna, Munich could piss all over Hong kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Los Angeles.

I can see where you're getting at, in skyline terms I shouldn't have really compared Birmingham to Oxford and Edinburgh as they're bot really comparable. They're in different leagues. I was just rating the skyline against all other cities when I should have been comparing like for like and yes, when you compare like for like you end up comparing Edinburgh with Oxford or Birmingham with Manchester (and not Edinburgh with Birmingham). So as far as modern high rise skylines in the UK go Birmingham is only really beaten by London. I still wouldn't raise my UK score by much at the moment though as I still stand by my argument that, while tall (by UK standards) I still find it an incredibly boring boxy skyline. As I said before it does have a hell of a lot of potential, it does have some landmarks - you've got a 100m Victorian clock tower for a start that adds interest and you've got the BT tower (personally I don't really like the B'ham BT tower but I do admit that it does add some interest). What you need now is a few tall signature towers to give the skyline some more interest from a distance. It's got bulk and density but the buildings are of fairly similar heights so now it needs something to give it some interest.

I agree we need more towers in Birmingham.

I'm still shocked that HCT got the go ahead, to be honest with you.

I just hope that the Rotunda is re-clad quite soon, as it looks disguisting compared to the new bull ring. I heard they were gonna re-clad it in blue glass, and add 5 extra floors (fingers crossed).

Now that would be excellent, I'd love to see that.

I doubt they'll add five floors, though it will be re-clad. It would be nice though.

Still, looks like Orion tower is making a start, That's 26 storeys, plus the 39 storey Beetham tower, plus the five Masshouse Towers. Certainly better than nothing!

7

Much better than I expected for an english city, one of the few I've not yet visited, needs some more intersting high-rises, and some more height too. Looking forward to some more density in a well-defined focal-point.

Originally posted by woodhousen

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by james2390 </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>i like it, i like the hyatt they have recently built too. 7</td></tr>
</table>

lol ok, it is prob one of our newest towers but that was built over 10 years ago....just go to show how much we need new towers. oh well atleast to of them are on there way!
ahh, I see. Well it's still an awesome Hyatt. :D

Here's a few bigs uns so I've posted them as links

Selfridges Department Store

http://skyscrapernews.com/tiki/show_image.php?id=137

http://skyscrapernews.com/tiki/show_image.php?id=138

Centenary Plaza under construction......this photos about 6 months old and this project has now neared completion

http://skyscrapernews.com/tiki/show_image.php?id=110

Hyatt hotel and Alpha Tower. The building site towards the bottom left of the picture is for The Orion Tower

http://skyscrapernews.com/tiki/show_image.php?id=108

Perrots Folly, along with the nearby water tower, Tolkiens inspiration for the Two Towers

http://skyscrapernews.com/tiki/show_image.php?id=148

6/10

Unimpressive for the fourth-largest European conurbation (not counting Istanbul as european)

The canal-picture is great though, lots of density showing potential.

Unimpressive for the fourth-largest European conurbation (not counting Istanbul as european)

The canal-picture is great though, lots of density showing potential.

Birmingham/West Midlands is not the fourth largest Euro conurbanation (in population I guess you mean)...it might be in the top ten but with around 3.5 million people, I can think of at least 7 metros that are more populous....Moscow, Paris, London, the Ruhr, Madrid the Randstad, St. Petersburg, Berlin and there are probably a few others.

To the city.....I like Birmingham so I give it a 6.5.
The Uk's second city definetly deserves a better skyline.....but I suspect it will improve in coming years. I can't see it becoming a second Frankfurt but it might catch up to a place like Rotterdam.

Le skyline es le shit. Le complete me nul. Le Un points :)

http://p.vtourist.com/45314.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/28986.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/45319.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/80184.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/80188.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/112069.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/112108.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/212890.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/212897.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/212904.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/212924.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/212932.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/212944.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/212951.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/212956.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/212954.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/213012.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/218303.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/273784.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/286257.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/286270.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/287253.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/287235.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/297946.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/323409.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/323564.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/323569.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/323583.jpg

Yeah, why post at all with such an unecessary comment. I don't want to read that. Should change the name to NoStyle.

BTW Nice pics spankmonkey :)

I gave it a 10, because I believe the skyline has lots of potential and if the council gets it's act together it could be a Frankfurt type city.

Thanyou very much Muse and Never although i think a 10 was a tad generous lol!

i hope you are right, the coucnil have real enthusiasm for Skyscrapers, lets just hope they get them building!

Birmingham/West Midlands is not the fourth largest Euro conurbanation (in population I guess you mean)...it might be in the top ten but with around 3.5 million people, I can think of at least 7 metros that are more populous....Moscow, Paris, London, the Ruhr, Madrid the Randstad, St. Petersburg, Berlin and there are probably a few others.

.

Its not in the top 10- you can certainly add Milan, Rome, Kiev and Barcelona to that list and probably at least Athens, Napoli, Stuttgart, Lisbon and Katowice as well with the likes of Hamburg and Brussels being around the same size.

Nice to see one of my photos being used and commented on though :)

Birminghams canals are probably it's greatest asset. Dunno if this is true, but I've heard somewhere that Birmingham is the largest city in the world not to lie on a major river, I'm sure some smart arse will correct me. Due to lack of river, it's made the most of it's canal network. Luckily most of it's new high rise projects (yes Accura AC starts construction just b4 Christmas) will be near its canals, so pictures of Bham's skyline in a few years will be a great mix of old and new.....here's a few pics I took today, and yes there are geese in Cental Bham

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4da38b3127ccebd70fe5400320000001610

http://skyscrapernews.com/tiki/show_image.php?id=342

http://skyscrapernews.com/tiki/show_image.php?id=343

http://skyscrapernews.com/tiki/show_image.php?id=345

http://skyscrapernews.com/tiki/show_image.php?id=346

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/victoria/council.jpg

oooooh someone likes my work!!

wow!

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4dd08b3127ccebb2d71cd3d480000001610


and another of my pieces of art!
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4dd08b3127ccebb2e825c1dec0000001610

7/10

er what do you mean another? ive been here barely a fortnight!..lol i gave it a 7/10.

Birmingham UK.


Birmingham Skyline 2002
http://skyscrapernews.com/tiki/show_image.php?id=185
http://skyscrapernews.com/tiki/show_image.php?id=185
http://skyscrapernews.com/tiki/show_image.php?id=186
http://www.wavejump.net/images/brum1.jpg

City-scape

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/bringsep03/openingday%20017.jpg
http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/bringsep03/openingday%20021.jpg
http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/bringsep03/openingday%20034b.jpg
http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/bullring2003/selfridge2.jpg
http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/victoria/townhall3.jpg
http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/newst/chCanonStreet.JPG
http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/newst/waterstones2.jpg
http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/corpst/chbullst.jpg
http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/corpst/chTheOldSquare.JPG
http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/canals/iwe3.jpg
http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/canals/canal.jpg
http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/colmore/grand.jpg
http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/canals/iwe9.jpg
http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/broadst/gasst1.jpg
http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/icc/fountain2.jpg
http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/broadst/allbar1.jpg
http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/broadst/9brindley.jpg
http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/broadst/sealife.jpg
http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/icc/ikon.jpg
http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/icc/brindley0402.jpg
http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/broadst/merchant.jpg
http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/broadst/edwards.jpg
http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/broadst/rat.jpg
http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/broadst/cafe2.jpg
http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/broadst/newfiveways.jpg
http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/broadst/hardrock.jpg

This picture makes the skyline look as if it goes on forever, definately has an american feel to it.

http://skyscrapernews.com/tiki/show_image.php?id=186

Originally posted by Smileyface - impressive amount of density don't you think:


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Birmingham%202/ViewfromCampHill3.jpg

Really nice skyline. I think it's nr.2 in UK. 7/10

7/10

Woo Hoo, new page :)

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/743BirminghamatNight_pic1.jpg

http://tinypic.com/29h89v

http://tinypic.com/21oto6

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/154AlphaTower_pic1.jpg

http://www.business.bham.ac.uk/bbs/static/images/cme_resources/users/malcolm/brumpics/skyline.jpg

Future Skyline with All towers Approved and Under Construction

http://www.worldcityphotos.org/UK/UK-ENG-Birmingham-skyscrapercitycomaug041.jpg

I think it's ugly. 5/10

Sitback, Birmingham is like all UK cities, London included.. in it is blighted with monstrous post-war architecture that ruins the fine architecture at street level. It is something all our cities are having to deal with and Birmingham is coping just as well as the other cities in building and designing projects that will reflect the beauty of the city. HCT will be an icon of Brum in the early 21st century I believe.. and this will aid it to continue to develop a skyline.

birminghamculture, I'm proud of you because you have work hard to add many picture. Your picture are cool. I gave a 9/10. :)

Some nice architecture and a good skyline. I give it a 7/10. :okay:

Impressive for the UK and Europe, best outside London at the moment ... 7.5/10 :cheers:

HCT is quite a major addition to the skyline. :)


http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/skyline/kingston0505.jpg

Birmingham is nice. Skyline is typically British, but the modern additions and the classical architecture is fantastic. Liking the under construction towers too. 7/10

Stu

I wish people would vote, I cant understand why its 382 out of 500 odd - Glasgow and Manchester with hardly any density or Skylines are 100's of places above Birmingham. Deary Me -> Gdansk is even ahead at 103 with this

http://www.gardensafari.net/hania/pol/gdansk/i11gda990434.jpg

Brum's skyline isn't bad, it is certainly getting better. However, outside Britain it's nothing special. What Birmingham needs to make an impact outside Britain (skylinewise) is Arena Central and perhaps another 2 towers HCT height or taller.

Best in the Uk, wel, maybe London is, but by Internation standards, a bit rubbish to be honest.

Really needs something Like Arena Central, Tate Tower and Birmingham Needle to take into an International League, it's getting there, but they need to be less timid, the reduction on the HCT for example.

Oh and I like the picture of the Forward Statue on a previous page!

Burn-baby-burn!

3/10 very dull skyline

6.5/10

7/10

i'm impressed. Looks like theres alot of construction going on. 8/10

7/10

8.5/10

A mere 3 100+ towers isn't impressive - not even in Europe. It doesn't even outrank brussels lol. It does have an ok density for EU standards so I'll give it 5/10. It a big city after all...

http://tinypic.com/egy594.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/skyline/kingston.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/skyline/bristolrd3.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/817FunoftheFair_pic1.jpg

http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/images/2006/01/16/long_view_352x470.jpg

I cannot believe that the Holloway Circus Tower has not been publicly denounced. It seems to be taboo among any of the British forums to mention that Birmingham's new tallest is a disappointing building close up. It's cladding looks rather 70s, Rialto Towers-esque to me...

Yes, my nearest city is Manchester (or maybe Preston) but I honestly do not say any of this spitefully; I would be very disappointed if that were at the end of Deansgate, instead of Manchester's own Beetham tower.

To prove this, I will proclaim that at the moment, Birmingham's skyline is better than that of Manchester. But give it five or ten years and Birmingham, unles it really goes ahead like Manchester is doing, and the second ity will lag behind.


I don't particularly like the Beetham Birmingham and I honestly say that, not out of rivalry towards the city but because I know, as the U.K.'s second city (certainly interms of size) it deserves better.

I give Birmngham 6/10 but hopefully more in the future... :cucumber:

i dount think theres anything wrong with you tower and i accept that may be ur opinion but i love it....and thankfully its interesting with its nice curves...a great gateway to the city

Hello Woodhousen & y'All! I'm new to this, but here's one or two initial thoughts: I gave Birmingham '7' (principally from UK/European perspective I suppose) because it's improved/still improving, which i'm glad about (being my city of birth & to where i've recently returned). Some of the new proposals are good, but I have some reservations too (soz?). To me, anything taller than our current Telecom (BT) Tower is illogical - which the proposed Arena Central will be, as well as the Eastside tower(s) I understand (although these latter are located lower down in the Rea valley) - of course, i mean taller when when the whole skyline is viewed from a distance vis-a-vis ground to top height of each individual building (is there a technical name for this difference?). I think the 'crown' of the city centre should remain the cluster of satelitte dishes on top of the BT tower (as is such a feature - or often tower with an observation level+aerial - in many other cities). Aesthetically this is the most satisfying type of skyline (& ideologically/philosophically ie. the city communicating with the rest of the world, etc). Of course the 'problem' with Birmingham is that the BT tower is, in fact, relatively small (152m) and is itself located slightly below the city centre ridge. Nevertheless, one can still get a pretty 'grandiose' overall appearance from several well-designed (& carefully located) c.30/40-storey high rises (not skyscrapers alas??). A more radical alternative would be to also replace the 1960s BT Tower with a more contemporary-looking & taller one (& in a more central location) - although I have some affection for the existing one (bizarre huh?). I'm yet to be convinced that the sheer mass/height of Arena Central will complement the city unless other additions (& losses) are undertaken to complement it . . . (er, so what do you think?). . . . Cheers for now (. . . just off to (cyber-)tour the cities of the world!).

I liked a lot of these pix, and there are nice historical buildings... also Birmingham is
working hard to get rid of a lot of the hideous 60's stuff, which gives big bonus points.
I gave it a 7.5 and it is a city to watch!! :)

7, I like the architecture of this city.

Promising skyline 6.5/10

Insignia you wouldnt be able to move some of the old images you posted could you? Its just that Woodhousens updated the pictures on the first page of this thread. Thanks :)

In terms of UK - I give it a 9/10
In terms of Europe - 6/10
In terms of World - 3/10

9/10!

9/10- very well-developed, nice skyline for an european city, and nice mix of arquitecture.

6/10

Thanks for your votes :cheers1:

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c258/cargohold/Orion--HCT.jpg
http://www.pixeldiva.co.uk/photo/gallery/good-morning-birmingham-ie.jpg
http://www.pixeldiva.co.uk/photo/gallery/room-with-a-view-ie.jpg
http://www.site-eye.co.uk/atwork/birmingham%20big.jpg

Future Plans

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/575/belgrave4nu.png
http://img471.imageshack.us/img471/7003/future18uw.png

The future skyline renders are impressive.

6/10

7.5/10

nice new developments!

Its picking up again now, 2007/08 should see Birmingham regain the title of UK's most developing city outside London after 5-6 years of slow down.

Expect some big news over the coming months,

A mere 3 100+ towers isn't impressive - not even in Europe. It doesn't even outrank brussels lol. It does have an ok density for EU standards so I'll give it 5/10. It a big city after all...

Very true. Its plans however for a highrise city didnt come into place until 1998, so to be honest having two built before that was quite good in itself.

Next year should see the start of 2x 175m towers, a 134m residential, and numerous other towers ranging in height from 50-100m, and another 110m tower is due to start in 2008. Things are looking up with the highrise policy due to be scrapped and the council releasing highrise plots, including some positive murmurings of 2 new skyscrapers at New Street Station and another at Holloway Circus opposite the newly constructed 122m Beetham Tower.

2006-07-04 > Second City Skyline Gets Second Chance

After years of apparently stalling in its commitment to building a skyscraping skyline, has Birmingham been handed a second chance?

In 1998, the city of Birmingham publicly unveiled its ambition to become a skyscraper city. Naming itself as a "Mini-Manhattan" and launching prospects of 1,000ft skyscrapers, Birmingham was the place to be for developers with towering ambitions.

However, the months following Sept 11th, skyscrapers were no longer the fashionable assets cities wanted. Birminghams high-rise ambitions were watered down and the final nail in the coffin came with the publication of "High Places", Birmingham's very own but very restrictive high-rise policy.
This either resulted in the long delay in towering projects such as the 8 year old Arena Central Tower, the mass reduction in height of other buildings as was the case for Beethams Holloway Tower or all new towers built up to a strict height limit.

It would appear however, that the fortunes of skyscrapers in the city are about to change if a number or press releases and public announcements are to be believed. If this is the case, the week of 24th June 2006 could be the date that Birmingham's towering ambitions are set back on track.

Recent news reports that Birmingham city council were planning a shake up of the cities out-of-fashion high-rise policy was confirmed this week by Clive Dutton, director of planning and regeneration at Birmingham city council.
"We're reassessing our tall building policy in light of the interest in them in recent years. We're looking at where we want to cluster them and how tall is tall?" admits Dutton.

The assessment comes as part of the wider 10 year master plan for the 2,000 acre city centre area inside the cities ring road. However, the cities stance on skyscrapers will not be known until autumn at the earliest although sources within the industry would suggest the city council will focus high-rise development around key city nodes, such as New Street Station, and Holloway and Lancaster Circus.

However, even though Birmingham city council will be adapting their high-rise policy, wannabe skyscraper developers will still be limited by nation wide Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) height limits. With Birmingham city centre being located on a 110m sandstone ridge, and a national CAA height limit imposed at 242m, prospects of building higher than 130m would appear tricky at least, but not impossible.

Speaking last week in the cities Rep Theatre, world renowned architect Eric Kuhne unveiled his vision for the land mark tower to be located at Arena Centre: Arena Square Tower. Having been recently contracted to draw up designs for the tower at Arena Central, Kulne spoke of a tower unlike that of any tower currently in the city, and the tallest tower outside the capital. On the face of it, many people may ask the question of how this is possible.

The answer lies in the second major revelation this week which has the potential to restart the towering ambitions of Birmingham: the confirmation that Birmingham International Airport (BIA) on behalf of the CAA now withdraw any objections to Arena Squares height following discussions with owners Miller Developments and Bridgehouse Capital. A committee report issued this week goes on to state...
"..having submitted an aerodrome safeguarding impact assessment ... the assessment has been considered by Birmingham International Airport, in conjunction with the Civil Aviation Authority. The airport have now written to confirm that the assessment demonstrates that a tower of up to 175m would be acceptable in aerodrome safeguarding ... They have therefore withdrawn their previous objection to the tower."

Having taken such a route, BIA and the CAA have now created a precedent on how high Birmingham skyscrapers can be built. Towers such as Arena Square tower and Richardson Cordwells Broad Street Tower now stand the best chance of being built than they ever have in the past, and this in itself could trigger yet another boom in towering proposals in Birmingham.
With a number of towers in the city either in planning or approved ranging from 80-175m in height, Birmingham is building itself the skyline it wants. BCC and BIA are sending out the most positive signals to skyscraper schemes to date. A very restrictive high-rise policy has been called in and reviewed, and the local airport has decided to withdraw its objection to the tallest tower proposal in the city.

Will this move, however late it may be, may attract other developers wishing to build big in the city or are things as good as they are going to get with Birmingham's high-rise vision? One thing is for sure however, Birmingham's skyline is changing.

8.5/10

nice skyline but not very neat :)

7,5/10

Difficult. I expected more for the second city of England, but I can see that something is going on there. Pure for what is now -> 6/10.

I gave brum the same as i gave manchester, 8.5.
Allthough it has a better skyline in terms of skyscrapers, i think when certain shots of both cities are compared, the surrounding countryside of manc and the skyscrapers of brum on each cities skyline makes them as good as each other in my eyes.

I gave it an 8, but I think it has more of an impact than Manchester

Too much crappy architecture. 6/10

It's not bad but I don't like british cities (I don't know why) so I give 6.5/10

Birminghams skyline now stretches 2 miles and is due to grow further with a 176m observation tower in the emerging Eastside.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%204/WolvoWalsallblocks16th12200648.jpg

This is what the future has in store. Just the major towers included.

http://static.flickr.com/139/326052012_b4b1018a1b_o.jpg

One from the industrial heartland

http://www.naikidbydesign.co.uk/image/Birmingham%20Pan.jpg

Hills

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Birmingham/BrumView.jpg

Reservoir

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Birmingham%204/BirminghamPanorama2-7.jpg

Emerging cluster?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%202/Birmingham22ndOctober200617.jpg

Rush Hour

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Birmingham%207/Bhamfromwork13.jpg

Summertime

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Birmingham%207/PICT000827072006.jpg

Time for change

http://inthemac.com/simon/odd/ssc/stitch_smileyface.jpg

Downtown

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks/PICT004816072006.jpg

Matchday car park

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/downtownmark/Kenilworthcastle021.jpg

The shit is going ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%202/Birmingham22ndOctober20061.jpg

Industrial

http://i13.tinypic.com/2ngtqu0.jpg

Dark

http://static.flickr.com/61/214490099_76885e4acf_b.jpg

Pano from industrial heatland

http://www.linearb.net/skyscrapers/bham_cityscape.jpg

Pretty nice city! 8/10

wow, an unexpected little boom
the skyline may be better in the future.
8.5/10

8,5 / 10 one of the most promising UK cities for taller highrise development... :)

Cool city, nice skyline for an European city! 8/10

As it is my city I love it. An impressive skyline for a UK city outside of London but then again, Birmingham is the second city of Britain!

Rating the existing skyline, which is mediocre, a 6/10. No, it's not because I'm a manc, it's because looking at this compared to the majority of the other fantastic world skylines in this section, giving it more than a 6 would be pa travesty. Yes I know Manc's existing skyline is even worse, worry not about that. Sad I have to include that disclaimer, but otherwise my opinion will be hacked down as biased or something.

This was done by a Birmingham Forumer. The aim isnt really to compare but put into perspective that Brum does have an awfully long skyline for a European City. Its even a wee bit longer then this. Its also not to scale.

Londons tallest (183m) Birminghams (152m)

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/mmmmm.gif

Looks good, 7.5/10

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/82/248939091_371ee00b2b_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/133/321406681_42108bbade.jpg?v=0http://farm1.static.flickr.com/142/318606479_f94edb392f.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/89/226220986_1257411f80.jpg?v=0http://farm1.static.flickr.com/119/252308246_4fa377f6bc.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/117/252308251_9f79a81ab5.jpg?v=0http://farm1.static.flickr.com/76/218766364_6d2a8acf90.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/images/spaceball.gifhttp://farm1.static.flickr.com/115/292086490_de53d991ab.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/113/287857948_0cffc94533.jpg?v=0http://farm1.static.flickr.com/100/275445152_851e277cf5.jpg?v=0

This was done by a Birmingham Forumer. The aim isnt really to compare but put into perspective that Brum does have an awfully long skyline for a European City. Its even a wee bit longer then this. Its also not to scale.

Londons tallest (183m) Birminghams (152m)

Isnt this kinda like me posting from an angle that includes lots of inner city suberb council flat blocks in Manchester and stating they're part of the 'Skyline'- there is a difference between those pictures in that sense, is there not?

No! its the city center. 5 ways down to Aston.

^^ It's not even to Aston, it's to Colmore Plaza.

Birmingham has the best skyline in the UK outside of London. Especially from a distance.

Oh ok! thought it was to Aston.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/89/248090864_b488b894a1_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/145/357367881_cd4f29d392_o.jpg

beautiful skline, but needs taller buildings: 9/10

Lukily our resident skyline photographer has been out and about and took some quite wonderful shots. I'll wang them on to a different page however as this one is quite choc-o-block.

UH HUH. :)

Taken by Smileyface :)

Nightime

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%204/BhamNightSkyline191200718.jpg

Daytime

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/183/362868655_70ee2c2ea5_b.jpg

City to City

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/117/362868648_ece039e9e6_o.jpg

Looks pretty good, 7.5/10

7.5/10

Does anyone actually know where the skyline poll is? I cant seem to find it :dunno:

More by Smiley

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/80/362868650_e3316c8c7f_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/145/362882847_849ba9ae19_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/101/362882792_9ab975e83a_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/87/362876626_fbee246408_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/148/362863053_05546d1e45_o.jpg

7.5/10

8/10

It's not bad but I don't like british cities (I don't know why) so I give 6.5/10


Well, why vote in the first place, and secondly, 6.5 is a pretty high score for someone who doesn't like British cities.

great, 8.5/10

7/10 its is quite good, not much to shout about though...

Arguably the best skyline in the UK..this side of London
Brum's skyline has changed a lot since the last time I was there around 1994.

Although not in the league of the top skylines of the world (or even Asia) - a 7.5 from me for being significantly better than Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool. Hahah :)

The second best skyline in Great Brittain after London of course.
I give it a 6.5, because if you compare this skyline to skylines in the USA or Asia it's nothing.

Notreally good 4/10

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb105/jaybuoy/000-8.jpg

Courtesy of Smileyface (i think)

nice, 6/10

Needs a couple of 150m+ skyscrapers, but pretty good for a European city.

7/10

Current

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/Original.jpg

Future

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/Untitled-1copy-8.jpg

Left to right: Cube(72m), Broad St Tower(133m), Twin New St Towers(136m), V building(147/152m), 103 Colmore Row(137/165m), Martineau Galleries(110m), City park Gate(Tallest being 81m), Snow Hill(138m + 86m), Snow Hill plaza(118m) and Masshouse(tallest being 104m).

on a world scale - 3/10 not good!

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/A-3.jpghttp://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/B-2.jpghttp://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/C.jpghttp://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/D-1.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/Render.jpg

oringial pic taken by Smileyface and Van Heckler did the editing.

Nice City

All we need now is a 500m pinnacle;)

The general architecture seems severely inferior to other British cities. The skyline itself isn't bad (especially considering that it is a European city) but the the entire city as a whole seems undesirable.

I would give it 6.5/10.

In many ways i agree, but a lot of, if not most large British citites have very similar architecture. Birmingham arguably suffered the most during the 60's, with many fine buildings being demolished to make way for ringroads and underpasses. However on a street level, there are many many great buildings, which the pictures posted in this thread do not show. If you have a chance take a look in here http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=509918, which shows some of the streetscapes.

Pictures by Brum forumers (Erebus, Feltip etc etc)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2286/2371799623_dafcf15917_b.jpg

The beggining of the high-rise renaissance

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2189/2386004986_1b9edf105e_b.jpg

Work well underway on Birmingham next new tallest

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/2380566479_cdfe35de4b_b.jpg

Smallest of the 4 building in this scheme well underway

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2301/2381428362_f981db82ec_b.jpg

The growing Central Buisness District

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2372/1656555157_6a1242a992_b.jpg

Recently reclad

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1418/1386220921_120f9860c9_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1118/612125207_2977039318_b.jpg

1 of 11 100m+ towers in planning

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2008/1543747825_77e6e142e5_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2069/1544606602_560080e13a_b.jpg

Just wont reliquish its hold of Brums Tallest title

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2141/2269423106_39489cced5_b.jpg

Beggining of Demoltion to be replaced by a taller tower

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2302/2268650903_3bd3542d09_b.jpg

Not really a star but every little helps

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2358/1657406698_6c97e32274_b.jpg

Its growing

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2321/2269432570_ff5dcce591_b.jpg

as is ...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2124/2268704375_b535d3595f_b.jpg

Looks good, but i wont vote until all the projects are finished.

Surprisingly good.8

I remember Brummy when i was a little lad and man it has changed for the good.I think i went there to see Rosie and Jim's boat.Still the skyline is very impressive.

7,5/10. not bad

pics don't do birminghams skyline justice.When entering birmingham by train then you get the feel and size of the skyline not tall but on density pretty impressive and with the new proposals and new projects under construction it's getting better

Not bad, it is changing, and it is nice to see all the cranes. 8/10.

Birmingham's skyline is very impressive, especially at night. Birmingham has density, but it could do with 2-3 +150m skyscrapers and maybe 1 +200m.

Well we are getting V which will be 150m, and possibly Regal, Lancaster or holloway circus plot 4 will be over 150m. And VTP200 if built will be 200m so fingers crossed.

8/10:)

Seems orright but the commie rubbish from the 60s/70s still seems too domineering.
Making great strides in the right direction though. 7/10

Well we are getting V which will be 150m, and possibly Regal, Lancaster or holloway circus plot 4 will be over 150m. And VTP200 if built will be 200m so fingers crossed.

Maybe, but not the way England is pretty much going into a recession.

Birminghams got a better skyline that i would have thought. I wont vote until all of the new towers are completed, but I think that if things carry on the way they are going (and Boris J. has anything to do with it), Birmingham could be the best in Britain.

6/10 Curently, but hopefully 8 or 9/10 in the future.

7/10.

Birmingham is ok.

Nice city!!

8.5/10

7/10

6/10

Good for european standarts, nice mix of old and new- 7.5/10

thank you

Seems orright but the commie rubbish from the 60s/70s still seems too domineering.
Making great strides in the right direction though. 7/10

I second that.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3299/3244984926_153b2ff675_b.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brettwilde/

This guy takes some of the most amazing photos

New tower for birmingham.
200 m +

Regal tower.

More images of regal tower.
Plan will be submitted in may.I could well be between 180 to 210 meters tall.50-60 stories.
Architect is Aedas.

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc273/jayo_011/aedas_regal_tower_birmingham_5.jpg

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc273/jayo_011/aedas_regal_tower_birmingham_4.jpg

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc273/jayo_011/aedas_regal_tower_birmingham_2.jpg

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc273/jayo_011/aedas_regal_tower_birmingham_3.jpg

10/10 :cheers:

7/10

8/10

8/10

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1000874.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/Untitled1.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1000022.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010038.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010134.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1000925.jpg


The spires of the legal quarter

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010695.jpg

5 ways
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010970.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1000935.jpg

From out in North Warwickshire

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1000154.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1000153.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1000822.jpg

8/10

8. Good. Regards.

7/10
Pretty balanced. The larger projects are looking niceW

9/10

8/10

7.5/10

Brum is growing quite well.

10/10:)

6.5/10 it looks much better while closer to the core or on street view but then you wouldnt be able to actually see the skyline now would you?

8/10

http://s003.radikal.ru/i202/1001/00/c32d5e0a78b8.jpg
http://s005.radikal.ru/i212/1001/ca/e9109476c225.jpg
http://s002.radikal.ru/i197/1001/d8/0a09ed0d3a1a.jpg

A few that have been posted in the Birmingham subforum lately.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3394/4628213597_03c1e937d0_b.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1030510.jpg

A couple of late evening pictures from by St Andrews

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1030516.jpg


http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1030517.jpg

http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv10/guilbert53/Pan85s.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2471/3725064958_aa3a5b433f_o.jpg

i read somewhere that birmingham was voted one of the most boring cities in europe and as a second city its kinda crappy and all my english mates make fun of birmingham so a 4

i read somewhere that birmingham was voted one of the most boring cities in europe and as a second city its kinda crappy and all my english mates make fun of birmingham so a 4

:bash:

In a country like Britain, the second city status doesn't matter much. But the skyline is not a 4.

Doesnt matter if its the second or tenth city. A city with a metro pop of 2.5 million, should have a taller denser skyline.

I give it a 6, just because there are some building but nothing impresive.

Rating the skyline not the city.

It's really poor.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4103/5175829696_74ef6e61b3_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4086/5175232473_26ec1a3912_b.jpg

I give it a 6/10.

Here's another one...

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss206/unauthorisedentry/DSC_6332-1.jpg

(Not mine)

6/10.

4.5/10 it is better than leeds and manchester but not enough exciting. A lot of english towns try to emulate london but with less money and the architecture is influenced by that.

4.5/10 it is better than leeds and manchester but not enough exciting. A lot of english towns try to emulate london but with less money and the architecture is influenced by that.

I don't think thats true. Obviously less is built but the quality of architecture isn't any different. Infact Birmingham is getting quite a reputation across Europe as a play ground for architectural merit.

exhibit a

The Cube

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1264/5132985656_2fd79f039e_b.jpg

Plus there's loads of good stuff in and around good settings

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1287/1387110690_c91ae0fc79_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3411/4630283878_eff4ed04df_b.jpg

perhaps but they have great projects comparable to london ones (i don't talk about all projects just one remarkable)

I regret to have put only 4.5! it deserves 5/10

I've never really rated Birmingham's skylilne at all as I've always thought Manchester / Leeds / Birmingham's skylines were all pretty samey. However the pic at the top of the page is really good.

I don't think Birmingham's density can be rivalled by any other UK city outside London.

Best skyline in the uk outside london :) I can not wait for snow hill phase 3 to restart, regal tower, beorma quarter, natwest n all the rest :D. 10/10

BIRMINGHAM
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/5602239101_6ddfb7cb09_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cezar-sab/5602239101/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cezar-sab/5602239101/) by Cezar-Sab (http://www.flickr.com/people/cezar-sab/), on Flickr

6.5/10

Birmingham

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss206/unauthorisedentry/DSC_6332-1.jpg

Birmingham


http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/Untitled-14copy.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/Banner.jpg

http://xl.skyscrapercity.com/images/headers/2011/04/24.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/4-8.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/Untitled-25copy.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/7-4.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/Untitled-13copy.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/Untitled-23copy.jpg

A boring skyline, 5/10

A few good buildings but certainly needs to get denser.

It's ok. 5.5/10

big city, metropolis

8,5/10

we have atleast 10 100m+ approved tho so keep an eye on Birmingham and watch the skyline become the second best in the uk (if its not already) and hopefully in the top 5 in europe.

7/10

Birmingham's skyline only looks fairly decent at a distance, when you can't actually see the detail of any of the buildings. If you look at the skyline from close range, many of the buildings are drab, dreary, 60's/70's architecture. Many of those buildings incorporated within the skyline are concrete residential council tower blocks.

There are a few nice, newer skyscrapers, but they are a minority. Pretty poor going for the 2nd largest city in the worlds 5th largest economy.

The gulf between London and Birmingham is still huge.

I actually think Liverpool has the best skyline of any city in the UK, outside of London.

You have such an outdated view of Birmingham.

How is Liverpool better then this? Cause it has water infront of it?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14751730@N08/3725064958/sizes/l/in/photostream/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/5602239101_6ddfb7cb09_b.jpg

Westside of Brum alone matches any other skyline outside London

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2433/4010135670_68c74941d7_z.jpg?zz=1

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2613/4008798607_f8ba35a5e0_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2425/4009562976_0b6c228ca8_b.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14751730@N08/3725064958/sizes/l/in/photostream/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/5602239101_6ddfb7cb09_b.jpg

Westside of Brum alone matches any other skyline outside London

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2613/4008798607_f8ba35a5e0_b.jpg

As good as Warsaw or Rotterdam IMO :applause:

Great pictures of Brum there, 9/10.

Yep those pictures look great at night when the buildings are all nicely lit up.

The tallest building in the middle, the Beetham Tower if i'm not mistaken, is great. It's new, modern and looks good.

The tallish building to the right of it, with the blue lights at the top and the bottom looks awful when you see it close up during the day. It's an old 60's/70's designed building that looks very dated and drab. At night, from a distance, with pretty lights, yes it adds to the cluster and makes the skyline look decent from a distance.

The two identically tall buildings on the left, with the blue lights on top, are again 60's/70's slabs of concrete, probably council flats.



To me, Liverpool's skyline is the best outside of London in the UK - and far superior to Birmingham's for 2 reasons:

1). Newer buildings dominate the skyscrapers at the waterfront, rather than having a dominance of old 60's/70's brutalist, concrete slabs as Birmingham does (bar some exceptions in B'ham, e.g, the Beetham and a few others)

2). Liverpool's skyline also incorporates some beautiful old buildings with some brilliant architecture. E.g the Liver Building. Not saying Birmingham doesn't also have nice old buildings, but they aren't prominent on the skyline.

Just like to add that i'm not from Liverpool (i'm from London) and I have no connections to Liverpool that would make me biased.

To me, this picture is a great demonstration of why Liverpool has the best skyline in the UK outside of London. Beats Birmingham any day of the week:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5171/5539292395_30d006608e_o.jpg

Liverpool again, during the day:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5104/5884562653_f3a0e47d44_b.jpg

London is the only UK city with a "modern" world class skyline (with skyscrapers etc)

I'd give Birmingham 5/10

London is the only UK city with a "modern" world class skyline (with skyscrapers etc)

I'd give Birmingham 5/10

Definitely agree. It's the only city in the UK with a world class skyline. That's why I commented a few posts up that Birmingham has such a poor skyline for the 2nd largest city of the world's 5th largest economy.

^^ If I were you I'd be happy because in France the 2nd largest city has a very very very poor skyline.

For Birmingham I give a 6.5/10

Definitely agree. It's the only city in the UK with a world class skyline. That's why I commented a few posts up that Birmingham has such a poor skyline for the 2nd largest city of the world's 5th largest economy.

Yeah I understand/get that London is much much bigger than Birmingham - such a big gap between the 1st and 2nd cities in the UK... but you'd think Birmingham could invest in building a better skyline etc.

Yeah I understand/get that London is much much bigger than Birmingham - such a big gap between the 1st and 2nd cities in the UK... but you'd think Birmingham could invest in building a better skyline etc.

It's private developers that fork out the money to build skyscrapers, not the local council - unless the buildings are for council use, which skyscrapers rarely are.

The problem is, Birmingham obviously isn't finding itself an attractive enough destination for high-spec high-rise developments. It costs a lot of money to build and maintain a skyscraper, and if the economic benefits aren't there then you won't find commercial or residential property developers investing in skyscrapers.

London is lucky enough to have a huge demand for high-rise commercial real estate - due to the importance of it's financial sector - and also a very high demand for high-spec, luxury, high-rise residential property.

Birmingham needs a couple of tall corporate buildings all glassy and modern to make a better skyline.

It's private developers that fork out the money to build skyscrapers, not the local council - unless the buildings are for council use, which skyscrapers rarely are.

The problem is, Birmingham obviously isn't finding itself an attractive enough destination for high-spec high-rise developments. It costs a lot of money to build and maintain a skyscraper, and if the economic benefits aren't there then you won't find commercial or residential property developers investing in skyscrapers.

London is lucky enough to have a huge demand for high-rise commercial real estate - due to the importance of it's financial sector - and also a very high demand for high-spec, luxury, high-rise residential property.

Well I've never been to Birmingham so have zero idea what the economy is like there, or what kind of property demand there is there?

I'm just comparing (in my head) ;) Britain's 2nd city with my home city (Brisbane) which is Australia's 3rd city... and the skyscraper development in Brisbane is very very healthy.

I'm just comparing (in my head) ;) Britain's 2nd city with my home city (Brisbane) which is Australia's 3rd city... and the skyscraper development in Brisbane is very very healthy.

Indeed, Australian cities are more relevant to compare to Asian cities.

Investment is huge in Birmingham. Comments on here are baffling.

Just because they aren't in the form of skyscrapers? :lol:

Suppose Europes largest Library at £193m and re-development of New Street at £550m are small fry.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6126/5974125343_29515b05d1_b.jpg

^^^^

That's a cool shot of Brum.

That bird looks like Jessie J :drool:

10/10 for Brum

Investment is huge in Birmingham. Comments on here are baffling.

Just because they aren't in the form of skyscrapers? :lol:

Suppose Europes largest Library at £193m and re-development of New Street at £550m are small fry.


Right, and who funds a library and local transport infrastructure? The government. Tax payers money. Not saying it isn't money well spent, but that's hardly a ringing endorsement of the vibrancy of Birmingham's economy.

The point I'm making is that Birmingham can't seem to attract enough private investment for there to be newer, modern skyscrapers being built (apart from one or two exceptions). What is going to allow Birmingham to have a world class skyline, with new skyscrapers - either for commercial use, i.e financial services, or residential? It is an economic environment that incentivises private real estate development, an environment where private developers choose Birmingham for skyscraper development because they feel they will get a return on their investment. Is there a large and buoyant enough financial sector in Birmingham that would demand high-rise office space? Is there are large enough clientele in Birmingham to attract developers to build modern, residential skyscrapers in the city centre? Doesn't seem like it, or these buildings would have been built.

There has only been one real new skyscraper built in Birmingham that would tick this box sufficiently, and that is the Beetham.

Hang on.

Are you saying Birmingham economy isn't vibrant because people aren't building skyscrapers?

:lol:

When has any UK city been renowned for high-rise construction?

Birmingham has many large clientele. It has many residential developments. It's office market cycle is coming to an end in 2012 where many 15 and 25 year leases are up. It's widely anticipated that there will be a major shortage of office space around this time leading into 2013.

Nobody builds speculatively in this country and if they do it's thanks to foreign investment.

You seem to assume success is in height?

When was London ever a highrise capital during it's reign as powerhouse of the world?

you are seriously misguided.

Birmingham has Europes largest city center masterplan. The city is to expand by 25% within the next 20 years.

High-rise zones have been implemented.

It's aim is to put Birmingham into the top 20 livable cities in the world.

If you seem to think nobody is investing in Birmingham because it hasn't had any skyscrapers built you are very narrowminded. :lol:

Hang on.

Are you saying Birmingham economy isn't vibrant because people aren't building skyscrapers?

:lol:

When has any UK city been renowned for high-rise construction?

Birmingham has many large clientele. It has many residential developments. It's office market cycle is coming to an end in 2012 where many 15 and 25 year leases are up. It's widely anticipated that there will be a major shortage of office space around this time leading into 2013.

Nobody builds speculatively in this country and if they do it's thanks to foreign investment.

You seem to assume success is in height?

When was London ever a highrise capital during it's reign as powerhouse of the world?

you are seriously misguided.

Birmingham has Europes largest city center masterplan. The city is to expand by 25% within the next 20 years.

High-rise zones have been implemented.

It's aim is to put Birmingham into the top 20 livable cities in the world.

If you seem to think nobody is investing in Birmingham because it hasn't had any skyscrapers built you are very narrowminded. :lol:

No, that's not what I'm suggesting at all. There are obviously many other indicators that a city is economically vibrant other than the number of skyscrapers.

This forum is to rate the skylines of various cities. The discussion we are having is about how good Birmingham's skyline is, and whether most of the buildings you see on the skyline are actually old 60's/70's high rise blocks rather than modern skyscrapers that other cities around the world are increasingly building (unless they have height restrictions).

The point I am making to back up my opinion that B'ham has a crap skyline is that it can't attract the type of investment that leads to skyscraper construction of the kind seen in many of the major cities of the world at the moment.

That is not to suggest that Birmingham doesn't attract other types of business investment. However, this discussion is about skyscrapers and the skyline of Birmingham - so my argument about economic investment is referring to the kind that leads to skyscraper development - not to the general economic growth of the city.

Re your point regarding London. You are right - during the days of the British Empire London did not have any skyscrapers. However, what kind of industries did London have at that time that lead to it being an economic powerhouse? It wasn't the financial services industry that we see today. The kind of financial services industry that requires vast amounts of office space in the centre of London, which in turn leads to a demand for high-rise buildings due to the shortage of space in the City. Since the financial services industry was let off the leash in the mid-80's and London's financial sector became one of the world's biggest, skyscrapers have started to mushroom. Look at Canary Wharf and look at the number of new skyscrapers that are coming up in the City. It is a certain type of economic environment and demand that leads to that.

That is the type of private investment that Birmingham lacks - bar the odd exception - because there isn't the demand for the same kind of office space and/or luxury residential space in the city centre.

If you want to have a discussion about the other investment that is going on in Birmingham and how the local economy is growing, I would agree with you. But it isn't the type of investment and economic growth that leads to skyscraper development on a large scale, and hence it keeps Birmingham's skyline (on the whole) stuck in the 1970's.

One cracking shot! :applause:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6126/5974125343_29515b05d1_b.jpg

Right. So now you're saying Birmingham is crap because it's not building skyscrapers. Is any city in the UK outside London.

You seem to wank over Liverpool despite building 4 mediocre towers of average height.

Birmingham has many plans. They are waiting for the market to pick up. Do you not think that is understandable considering the current FINANCIAL difficulties?

Right. So now you're saying Birmingham is crap because it's not building skyscrapers. Is any city in the UK outside London.

You seem to wank over Liverpool despite building 4 mediocre towers of average height.

Birmingham has many plans. They are waiting for the market to pick up. Do you not think that is understandable considering the current FINANCIAL difficulties?

I wank over Liverpool because it's a city probably less than half the size of Birmingham and it has a superior skyline, despite building only 4 mediocre towers of average height, as you say. Damning indictment isn't it?

As good as Warsaw or Rotterdam IMO :applause:

Er...except there are skyscrapers in Warsaw.