Birmingham’s Chamberlain Square re-opens to the public
Chamberlain Square, one of Birmingham’s most sizeable public spaces at the heart of the city, has now officially re-opened to the public for the first time since its closure in November 2015.
Chamberlain Square has been transformed with new paving, steps and lighting, with Sioban Coppinger’s 1993 bronze statue of Thomas Attwood, Birmingham Man, fully restored and situated on the steps close to the Town Hall. The 140 year old Chamberlain Memorial, renovated with the fountain and its jets replaced, serves as the square’s centrepiece.
The re-opening is the final part of the first phase of the £700m Paradise scheme, a 6.8 hectare development that will ultimately comprise a vibrant mix of retail, commercial, civic, leisure and hotel space.
Grant
Associates has been working with Argent to create a distinctive and
high-quality public realm environment in the historic civic heart of
Birmingham. The construction of Phase 1 includes buildings designed by
Glenn Howells Architects and Eric Parry Architects, with the associated
first phase of the Paradise public realm at podium level tying into the
surrounding civic context.
“We are delighted that Chamberlain Square has re-opened for the public to enjoy, at a time when outdoor space has perhaps never been more essential and cherished. The square has been completely updated and transformed, while the public realm’s design takes into account its location at Birmingham’s heart and is sympathetic to its historic setting.”
“The re-opening of Chamberlain Square is a key milestone not just for the Paradise development, but for the city of Birmingham. After five years of construction and a year of lockdowns, we are now seeing the fruits of all the effort that has gone into Paradise in the shape of new occupiers in our first two commercial buildings making major investments in the city as well as new pedestrian access points across the city and through the public realm.”
Read the full story here: https://www.paradisebirmingham...
Photo credit: Paradise - Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, 29 March 2021. Picture by Simon Hadley.