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Rotunda (Birmingham)
The Rotunda is a
landmark cylindrical tower block in Birmingham which is 81 metres ( 254
ft ) in height. It has been part of the Birmingham skyline since 1965.
It is probably the most well known structure in the city with the
possible exception of Spaghetti Junction. The
Rotunda was originally built as an office block of 25 storeys. Its
cylindrical shape was not received well initially. It has been
described as an ugly building and awkward in its design. However, plans
to demolish the building during the early 1980's resulted in
a public outcry and objections by city residents. Plans
for a revolving restaurant on the top floor never materialised as
construction had already been started. The building never really
maintained full occupancy for any length of time and was often regarded
as an integral part of the old Bull Ring shopping centre. The
urban sprawl that was the Bull Ring prior to its complete rebuild
suffered from inner city vandalism and general urban decay. The area
around it was often referred to as a concrete jungle so the Rotunda was
associated with the Bull Ring purely by its close proximity and was not
a popular or prestigious enough location to attract permanent and long
term tenants in sufficient numbers. In
2000 the Rotunda was listed as a Grade II building. As a result it
became an integral part of the massive redevelopment of the Bull Ring
Shopping Centre. It
was decided that the future of the Rotunda would no longer lie in its
status as a business tower block. Plans were put forward to build 230
modern stylish apartments of various sizes which would include six top
floor penthouse suites. With 14 apartments on each floor the design
would be that of a wedge shape leading outwards from the centre of the
building. Innovative
use of balconies and modern building practices have produced
attractive living space which has made the apartments
desirable for investment purposes or for those accoustomed to city
living. Spectacular
balcony views of the city and a communal garden at the base of the
building, coupled with underground parking and a unique state of
the art reception area now make the Rotunda a prestigious address to
own or live in. Refurbishment
was carried out by The Birmingham Alliance at a cost of £25 million.
The project has turned an old and outdated building into a modern
functional example of what can be done with a little imagination and
creativity. The building benefits from a more energy efficient
electrical system and insulation and is therefore more environmentally
friendly as a result. The
Birmingham Alliance worked with the original architect Jim Roberts,
along with Urban Splash and Glenn Howells artchitects and the project
was completed in 2008. Upon completion the development was so popular that all the apartments were sold out within hours of being released for sale. The
new glass skin gives the building a much more modern and refreshing
look and the redeveloped Rotunda now benefits from a more pleasing
environment within the revitalised Bull Ring Shopping Centre.
At the heart of the city of Birmingham, this iconic landmarks
future seems more certain than it has been at any stage of its forty
year history to date.
Birmingham Alliance:http://www.birminghamalliance.co.uk
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