mike whitby's letter to dcms re central library

8/14/2019 Mike Whitby's Letter to DCMS Re Central Library

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MW/CD/KJ/MH 9 July 2008

Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MBE, MP,Department for Culture, Media and Sport2-4 Cockspur StreetLONDONSW1 5DH

Dear Margaret Hodge,

Birmingham Central Library Certificate of Immunity from Listing

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the advice prepared by EnglishHeritage following the City Councils application for a Certificate of Immunityfrom listing which was submitted on 10 September 2007.

My response concentrates on the architectural and historic significance of thebuilding, although I would start by asking the question how the situation haschanged in the five years since the former Secretary of State decided thebuilding should not be listed.

In terms of the physical condition of the building, clearly that has deterioratedfurther and the inadequacies of the building for a contemporary library servicein a dynamic multi-cultural community at the heart of a globally relevant citybecome evermore apparent.

As the English Heritage advice states, the standards for post war buildingsare high with only the very best identified for listing.

Whilst the library clearly received attention in the media and the technical

press at the time of its completion - and it would have been surprising had itnot done so, given its scale and the fact it was, as the advice states, thelargest non-national library in Europe. However, in spite of the internationalawareness of the building it remains the case that the building has neverreceived a single architectural award since its completion, locally, nationally,or internationally.

In 2002 the Birmingham Post and Mail building was granted a Certificate ofImmunity by the Secretary of State. As recently as December 2007, number103 Colmore Row, the former Nat West bank, was rejected for listing.

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It is therefore the case that not a single building by John Madin has beenstatutorily listed.

With the exception of Andy Foster in the Pevsner Architectural Guide to

Birmingham of 2006, I am not aware of any noted architect, or architecturalhistorian or commentator having ever spoken in favour of the retention of thelibrary - let alone its listing - and the City Council is clearly of the opinion thatthe building does not meet the rigorous requirement for post war statutorylisting. I would point out in passing that John Madin lives in Hampshire andnot Birmingham as the report states.

The English Heritage advice places the Central Library in the context of thecitys civic centre and in an area notable for the quality of its architecture.However, the opinion of both the City Council and the overwhelming majorityof leading organisations representing the educational, commercial and civic

life of the City, together with residents, is that the intimidating brutalism of thebuilding may well have represented the apogee of this phase of Birminghamshistory, contemporary with the Inner Ring Road, complete with its subwaysand underpasses, but it is a period now derided and one which the last twentyyears of Council policy have sought to undo.

The conventional wisdom within the City is that the building significantlydetracts from the civic ensemble, particularly the recently refurbished Grade lTown Hall and the manner in which the link block, part of the originalensemble, collides with the Grade ll* listed Council House Extension is one ofthe more obvious ways in which the building fails to respect its higher qualityneighbours.

The accretions to the original building have also clearly detracted from theoriginal monumental statement.

In his authoritative book Building Jerusalem published in 2007, Tristram Huntdescribes the erection of the Chamberlain Memorial as the apogee of the civicgospel and goes on to say, Sadly, the demolition of the sympathetic Victorianarchitecture which surrounded the Memorial and its replacement in the1970sby John Madins horrendous ziggurat concrete library (famously described by

the Prince of Wales as looking like a place where books are incinerated)rather lessens the impression today. Once a shrine to public service, it is nowsullied by the glaring neon lights of a McDonalds and the tat of second-rateretailers.

Again the English Heritage advice refers to the location of the library betweenthe two major public spaces, Chamberlain Square and Centenary Square.The library, in fact, forms a bottleneck and a physical and visual blockbetween the two, which greatly inhibits the development of a well connectedcentral area.

The evolving City Centre Masterplan places considerable emphasis on theneed for improved linkages between the city core and Eastside andCentenary Square, Brindleyplace and Westside, whilst north south links tothe Jewellery Quarter are practically non existent.

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Clearly in the planning of the redevelopment of this critical and pivotal areathe City Council would wish to work closely with English Heritage to ensurethe enhancement of a group of distinguished historic civic buildings and theirlinkages with other parts of the city centre.

The statement that the continuing success of the library is self evident, whichis made within the Advisers Report - whilst true - is very largely in spite of thebuilding and due to the commitment of the staff who overwhelmingly dislikeand are constantly challenged on delivering an important and substantialservice to the citizens of Birmingham, and the region, from the existingbuilding.

The difficulty of offering a rapidly changing library service and also housingseveral world class collections in appropriate conditions becomes evermoreproblematic.

The City Council has committed itself to the provision of a new Library ofBirmingham since the year 2000. The Councils Cabinet approved thebusiness case for the new library in October 2007 to develop the new libraryon a site adjacent to and integrated with Birmingham Repertory Theatre, inCentenary Square. This followed extensive feasibility work, including somedesign work that established that the vision and objectives for the Library ofBirmingham can be successfully delivered on the site.

The Council has committed to underwrite the full cost of the new library andarchive. This is a commitment to fund a 193 million project which will providea state-of-the-art library and archive 30% larger than the current library and10% bigger than any other public library in Europe. The new library will bebuilt, ready and open for business in 2013.

This is because Birmingham City Council recognises the power of knowledge,information and culture to change lives, sharing the Governments view thatculture can contribute substantially to the local economy, to improvingpeoples wellbeing especially young people and to the strength and safetyof communities in general. An understanding of this is at the heart of thevision for the Library of Birmingham which will be more than a building, it will

be a destination and meeting place for the whole community, breaking downperceived barriers to cultural engagement and playing a pivotal role in thecultural life of the City.

It is important to stress that the role of libraries has been transformed sincethe early 1970s when the Central Library was designed, in response to thetechnological revolution and changing patterns of use for learning, leisure andculture. The extend and refurbish option for the existing library was costed inthe 2007 business case at 166 million. This was considered by the Councilto be not good value for public money, compromising the opportunity toprovide the best library in the world, - the new projects mission statement -

and removing all possibility of redeveloping Paradise Circus in a mannerwhich would truly reflect its magnificent and distinguished setting in the civicheart of the largest homogenous city in the United Kingdom.

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I would now like to address, in order, the reasons for the designation indicatedin the English Heritage report. I would make the following comments:

1. The boldness and monumental scale of the building create in a modernidiom a monumental civic building worthy of its setting in Birminghamscivic centre. The boldness and monumental scale could be seen asbrutalism and intimidation, both externally and internally in thecirculation area of the library. It is unsympathetic in its relationship withthe adjoining buildings and it prevents the enhancement of their setting,particularly that of the Town Hall, a Grade l Listed Building which hasbeen exceptionally well restored to its former glory (and opened byPrince Charles earlier this year) at a cost of 35 million in partnershipwith English Heritage.

2. The architectural quality of its design. The architectural quality iscertainly not sufficient to warrant listing; the materials, most particularlythe external cladding, were to a reduced specification and theaccretions over many years have reduced some of the qualities thebuilding might have had. John Madin, admittedly an influence in thepost war development of Birmingham, does not have a nationalreputation and none of his buildings have been listed. In the opinion ofmany, his best building, the Birmingham Post and Mail, was turneddown for listing in 2002.

3. The importance of the library to Birmingham: it is the largest non-national library in Europe and as such is a fitting library for Englandssecond city. It is precisely because of the importance of the library toBirmingham, which is in fact the second largest public library in Europe,that the existing building is no longer fit for purpose and can no longercater for the educational needs of a modern library service or thecuratorial requirements of world class collections. This particularreason for designation appears spurious.

4. It is the apogee of this phase of Birminghams history, evidence ofwhich is fast disappearing. If the library is indeed the apogee of this

phase of Birminghams history, it reflects a very different society whichcared little for those with any disability for whom the building is barelyaccessible. For the general public it is unwelcoming and the circulationspaces awkward, diminutive and indeed claustrophobic for the twelvemillion people a year that pass through its atrium.

5. It is unique. The building may be unique, but it is unique in its uglinessand disfunctionality, hardly grounds for statutory listing one would havethought.

I did want to respond to the specific conservation issues raised in the English

Heritage report with regard to the Shakespeare Library and other artefacts.The significance of the Shakespeare Library is fully recognised and there is aclear commitment that it will be reconstructed within the new library.

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The Royal Warwickshire Regiment Boer War Memorial, somewhatincongruously located in the lending library, is deserving of a more appropriatelocation and again there is a clear commitment to do this. The medallions ofShakespeare and Garrick will be rehoused in the new building.

I write this letter as Leader of the City Council, but also as one who has longknown the building and experienced its excellent services provided in a poorand outdated environment. Before the Minister comes to a decision on listing Iwould very much like to invite you to visit the library, as you have doneelsewhere.

As we created in Symphony Hall a concert hall which is the equal of anythingin the world, we are now committed to a new Library of Birmingham which issimilarly the envy of the world. In doing so, to create educational powerhousewhich releases the energies of the most learned academic and equally thoseof the Bangladeshi child from a challenging environment in inner city

Sparkbrook and also one which becomes a heritage and social historyresource accessible across the globe. That cannot happen in the existingbuilding. We are committed to enhancing and extending the civic area andimproving its accessibility; that cannot happen if the existing building isretained.

In conclusion, the City Council vision and passionate ambition, is to be one ofthe twenty most liveable cities in the world (benchmarked against the annualMercer index) within the next ten years. To do so is in the national interest, aswell as in the interests of all our citizens in both the city and the wider region. Ibelieve this ambition will be significantly impaired if the Council are inhibitedby the preservation of the existing library. The two issues are simplyincompatible.

For all these reasons the City Council profoundly disagrees with therecommendation of English Heritage and trusts that you will recognise theforce of argument against the statutory listing of the Central Library.

I very much look forward to your early response to my letter and confirmationthat you will authorise the Councils application for immunity from listing assoon as conveniently possible.

Yours sincerely

Mike WhitbyLeader of Birmingham City Council

cc. Simon Thurley, English Heritage

Diane Macfarlane, DCMS

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mike whitby's letter to dcms re central library

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