Selfridges Building, Birmingham

Selfridges Building
General information
Type Department Store
Architectural style Blobitecture
Location Park Street, Birmingham, England
Coordinates 52°28′40.02″N 1°53′32.13″W / 52.4777833°N 1.8922583°W / 52.4777833; -1.8922583Coordinates: 52°28′40.02″N 1°53′32.13″W / 52.4777833°N 1.8922583°W / 52.4777833; -1.8922583
Construction started 1999
Completed September 2003 (2003-09)
Cost 60 million Pound sterling
Owner Selfridges & Co.
Technical details
Structural system Steel framework with sprayed concrete facade
Floor count 6
Floor area 14,864m² (160,000sq ft)
Design and construction
Architect Jan Kaplický, Amanda Levete
Architecture firm Future Systems
Structural engineer Ove Arup & Partners
Services engineer Ove Arup & Partners
Main contractor Laing O'Rourke

The Selfridges Building is a landmark building in Birmingham, England. The building is part of the Bullring Shopping Centre and houses Selfridges Department Store. The building was completed in 2003 at a cost of £60 million[1] and designed by architecture firm Future Systems. It has a steel framework with sprayed concrete facade.[2] Since its construction, the building has become an iconic architectural landmark and seen as a major contribution to the regeneration of Birmingham.[3] It is included as a desktop background as part of the Architecture theme in Windows 7.

Architecture

The architecture firm Future Systems were appointed by Selfridge's then chief executive, Vittorio Radice, to design only the third store outside London. Although Selfridges was physically integrated with the Bullring Shopping Centre the client wanted a distinct design approach which would set the store apart from the rest of the development and become an instantly recognisable signpost for the brand.[1] The building's facade is curved, wrapping around the corner of Moor Street and Park Street. The facade comprises 15,000 anodised aluminium discs mounted on a blue background.

Awards

References

  1. 1 2 Flatman, Ben (2008), Birmingham: Shaping the City, RIBA Publishing, p. 147, ISBN 978-1-85946-245-4
  2. ↑ Selfridges Structural Frame, Steel Construction.org
  3. ↑ Brown, John Murray (2015-09-28). "Regeneration and quality woo savvy shoppers to Birmingham". Financial Times. ISSN 0307-1766. Retrieved 2016-01-22.


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