Squaring a central heart - Centenary Square competition

June 03, 2015

Squaring a central heart - Centenary Square competition

December 2014 saw the launch of a design competition to redesign Centenary Square, http://birminghamcentral.blogspot.com/2014/12/carpeting-living-room-centenary-square.html, and last week offered the public a detailed look at the details of the five shortlisted designs.

The five designs shortlisted from nearly 200 entries for the redesign of Birmingham's Centenary Square were showcased at the Library of Birmingham last week with the public invited to make their views known on their favourites.

A judging panel will select the winner but it has pledged to take the public view into account.
City council deputy leader Ian Ward said: "One of these five finalists will see their design become reality, transforming Centenary Square into a place where people will stop, relax and socialise, rather than simply passing through.
http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/news/regional-affairs/centenary-square-designs-displayed-library-9305130

Designs were first revealed in January 2015, http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/business/commercial-property/architects-plans-transform-centenary-square-8437628, but the display at the Library of Birmingham offered a more detailed look at how the square could look and how each architect has sought to work with the space and take inspiration from the city's history and future.

Images from the displays are reproduced below from the http://www.ribacompetitions.com/centenarysquare/

With the Midland Metro reaching the square soon and the square adjacent to the large redevelopment schemes of Paradise and Arena Central and the new Library of Birmingham and Symphony Hall it will be a civic heart to the city that will be a square heart to a beating city.

While it is too late to comment on the designs it is worth inspecting them for the details and for the exciting vision these architects have for Centenary Square. The square redesign offers a taster of the exciting creation of more squares and spaces in the adjoining Paradise and Arena Central development schemes. With good design we have the opportunity to transform the city as a city of squares and space that bring together our citizens and add to the rich diverse city while being good design.

The designs are reproduced below by practice.

Broadway Malyan