45 Church Street | Church Street | 60m* | 14 fl | Comp.

[El Paulo]

Originally Posted by MJH

Well traditionally the "Birmingham Style" was based on red terracotta, but that was traditionally moulded terracotta, see Cannon Street, Methodist Central Hall, Victoria Law Courts, Bell Edison building etc, but modern developers normally mean Terracotta rainscreening, which is a bit of a poor cousin (phrase of the day for MJH!), and basically means they use lots of regular rectangular tiles to add a bit of interest (and bring down cost, as its cheaper than the same cladding frontage of good quality brick!), it was used quite effectively on the big curvy halls of residence for Aston University.

Thanks MJH. I'll consider myself educated!

BTW, how much would one of Birmingham's terracotta trimmed buildings such as [...you choose one as an example, MJH!!] cost in todays money?

[Butterfield]

Be careful El Paulo, you will feel largely unloved again if you get no reply to your question for a couple of months.

[Biosonic]

I can jump in a little there. Not with terracotta but with stone. The Town Hall has cost £38m (ish) for an extensive internal refurb and stonework repair to the outside. Terracotta would be cheaper, but not much because the moulds would be particular to that scheme.

A ball park figure to rebuild the Town Hall in its entirity would be £100-150m?

I can't remember the figures for Baskerville House, but that is brick, faced with stone AFAIK, and the work on that cost £40m I think.

[El Paulo]

Originally Posted by Butterfield

Be careful El Paulo, you will feel largely unloved again if you get no reply to your question for a couple of months.

Thanks Butterfield - I'll be careful!

Though it seems that Bio loves me, and I'm ready to admit that I love Bio! There, our love is outed...

[Biosonic]

One big love-in

[FLD]

Oooooh Matron!

I don't know, Peat House is one of those developments I just can't get excited about, I've tried, but I can't.

[El Paulo]

Originally Posted by FLD

Oooooh Matron!

I don't know, Peat House is one of those developments I just can't get excited about, I've tried, but I can't.

That's interesting - it's one of the developments I'm most eager to see! Don't know why but it I love it and I think it will suit this rather historic area of the city well. It's on the ridge, so it may be more visible than a lot of other things going up in Brum.

[FLD]

My wife used to work in that building, there was a little tear in her eye when we drove past last week, & there was just a big hole where it used to be!

[Biosonic]

The old Eye Hospital is now Hotel du Vin, so if she had a tear in her eye you had best take her to A&E.




Like what I did there?

[FLD]

She was perplexed because the two buildings were linked (that old light brown pebble dashed effort that has now gone, with corridors through to the new glass building on Livery Street).

Funny word, "tear", isn't it?

[Erebus555]

Originally Posted by FLD

Oooooh Matron!

I don't know, Peat House is one of those developments I just can't get excited about, I've tried, but I can't.

I agree. I just cant imagine something substantially wow-like. I'd love to be proved wrong though.

[U475 Foxtrot]

What, you're not excited by this? It's going to be lovely and it'll happen quickly

[Erebus555]

It looks lovely but it doesnt make me go wow. I might get slated for what I'm about to say but... It's nothing special.

[Butterfield]

Originally Posted by El Paulo

Thanks Butterfield - I'll be careful!

Though it seems that Bio loves me, and I'm ready to admit that I love Bio! There, our love is outed...

Sorry El Paulo but me and Biosonic declared our love for each other a couple of weeks ago. He's even going to change his name to Biofield and I will be Buttersonic.

[Erebus555]

Originally Posted by Butterfield

Sorry El Paulo but me and Biosonic declared our love for each other a couple of weeks ago. He's even going to change his name to Biofield and I will be Buttersonic.

[U475 Foxtrot]

I don't think the visuals do it great justice and it's in a bit of an arse end of town which will be dramaticaly changed for the better. It's high class infill like 132 Edmund Street. Where the podium aligns with the rest of the buildings on Church Street will look incredible (if done well, which I expect it will) with the towering section overhead

[El Paulo]

Originally Posted by U475 Foxtrot

I don't think the visuals do it great justice and it's in a bit of an arse end of town which will be dramaticaly changed for the better. It's high class infill like 132 Edmund Street. Where the podium aligns with the rest of the buildings on Church Street will look incredible (if done well, which I expect it will) with the towering section overhead

I'm with you on this. Can't put my finger on it but it looks like it's got staying power. There are some lovely buildings round there which it will blend in with and it looks great from a distance. I'm reassured by what Neal said - it floats my boat!

Edit: Do people think it's got a sort of "Cannon House" feel to it? Most people like that, and this seems somewhat similar to me.

[morestoreysplease]

Being steel framed (guessing) this should fly up and like P&M, get it's glazing clad early on.

[Biosonic]

I don't know which sounds better! Biofield or Buttersonic!!!

As for Peat House, I like it, and it is symbolic of the quiet "getting on with it" going on, with decent architecture and hopefully decent execution.

Maybe we are seeing a bit of a "I want to be taller than my neighbours" going on here - after all the views will be good from the top floors (until there are loads more towers of course )

[woodhousen]

i know the site has been cleared but is this building actually going up?!?!?