Brutalism Brutalised (DS23 & AT39)

Abstract Thursday in the extra
Derelict Sunday - main image.  
Two for the price of one!

What follows is a blatant advert for Birmingham which has been slowly  turning into a modern European City while most people were looking the other way ... visit soon before everyone notices!

The old 'brutalist concrete box' library is being taken down, and although it is sad to see a building with some life left in it going, the end result will be an improvement.  Central Birmingham has changed out of all recognition since I was a lad,  and very much for the better!

Gill and I were there to see the refurbished New Street Station (see extra and also Loose Cannon's blip) and to take a look around the art gallery. We stopped off in Solihull to collect Gill's new camera from John Lewis and then caught the train to Birmingham. The old library, is directly opposite the art gallery steps where I took the main image from.  Inside the gallery, the new(ish) Staffordshire Hoard exhibition is well worth visiting and there is always one of the art works which makes an impression - today it was The Piazza of St Mark's, Venice by William Logsdail,  just dripping with detail!

The gallery is free entry - there are voluntary donation boxes if you see something you like - and you definitely will!  The new library is also worth a visit and yes - it is free too!