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Building Review: Selfridges Store, Birmingham
Selfridges in Birmingham showcases new technologies rarely seen in recent years, creating an unusual landmark.
By Akshay Nagar
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Selfridges Birmingham is a story of immense budget, the biggest brands, major venture capitalists, developers, and for its time, very unconventional and interesting architecture. The Guardian described it as “computer-age geological outcrop”. It is an attempt to completely defy contextual scales.
In terms of time schedule, the building did not perform well, taking four years longer than expected, similar to the smooth moulded pebble shape it resembles. A pebble by the sea would take years to form!
The facade is computer generated, flaunting 15,000 CNC aluminium discs, drawing on new fabrication techniques rarely seen in this country. Some critics have suggested it is an example of ‘blob styled’ architecture striving outside London. I believe Amanda Levete Architects are pioneers in this style of contemporary architecture. This can be seen in their other work, such as the Stirling prize winning Lord’s Cricket Ground, and the Victoria and Albert Museum extension.
The firm’s strong ideology and theory based thought process can be seen from product design to architecture. AL_A also demonstrates that women architects are more than just Zaha Hadid.
Selfridges Birmingham was destined to act as a landmark urban regeneration project and crowd puller. I think if one happens to wander in the evening around the Bull Ring area, where the building is located all the cameras flashing do prove that the architects AL_A have been successful in achieving what the headed to do.
It has been called an example of “futuristic design”, or is informally dubbed as “out of space architecture ”. I think it relates to the term ‘Alien’ in two ways. It looks like the space ships portrayed in sci-fi art and movies, and it successfully translates such aesthetic ideologies into a modern building. It more deeply relates to the term alien, by the manner in which it sits in the commercial district of Bull Ring, an area prominent since the Middle Ages. Until the Selfridges building arrived, the area did not showcase any organic or such futuristic architecture.
I think it might be an alien in terms of architectural style, yet it fits into it’s urban context. As an addition, it is only like sugar to milk, only making it better, that is what this Alien does, it boldly yet sensitively adds to this historic urban area and becomes an important destination for tourists and locals alike.