MW/CD/KJ/MH9 July 2008Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MBE, MP,Department for Culture, Media and Sport2-4 Cockspur StreetLONDONSW1 5DHDear 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 Council’s 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 technicalpress 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 never received a single architectural award since its completion, locally, nationally,or internationally.In 2002 the Birmingham Post and Mail building was granted a Certificate of Immunity by the Secretary of State. As recently as December 2007, number 103 Colmore Row, the former Nat West bank, was rejected for listing.1

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 toBirmingham 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 thecity’s 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 civiclife of the City, together with residents, is that the intimidating brutalism of thebuilding may well have represented the ‘apogee of this phase of Birmingham’shistory’, 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 of the 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 the1970’sby John Madin’s 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 now sullied 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.2

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 their linkages with other parts of the city centre.The statement that the continuing success of the library is self evident, whichis made within the Adviser’s 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 of Birmingham since the year 2000. The Council’s 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 of Birmingham 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 Government’s 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 willbe 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 1970’s 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 project’s mission statement -and removing all possibility of redeveloping Paradise Circus in a manner which would truly reflect its magnificent and distinguished setting in the civicheart of the largest homogenous city in the United Kingdom.3