Birmingham Cube Squares Up

Fast forward a couple of years and one of the most unique buildings in Britain should be rising on the Birmingham skyline. Anyone familiar with Star Trek : The Next Generation could be forgiven for thinking the Borg are set to invade Brum, but the plans are not for a huge intergalactic spaceship but rather a new apartment building designed by Ken Shuttleworth of MAKE Architects called the Cube.

Sitting next to a prime waterside location in the centre of Birmingham at the Mailbox, only a stones throw from the hugely successful Bullring Centre, on the last available development site in that area making it such a draw that over 1000 people have registered for interest in the apartments. With such interest construction is expected to start in July or August 2006.
The building will be around 70 metres in height and 17 storeys tall. It will be topped by a rooftop restaurant and bar as well as open roof gardens.

The design features what is a basic cube shape with the innards sliced out creating a private atrium within that apartments can overlook and flood with natural light from the inside as well as the opportunity for impressive community space. At ground level this becomes a public space flanked by two L shapes that serve to actively attract the pedestrian flow through it who can provide custom for the prime retail spots it offers.

The outside of the building will be clad in a modular scheme of glass and metal featuring sturdy geometric patterns that will further enhance the overall nature of the building whilst at the same time turning it into a huge piece of art.

The top area will be glass splayed outwards as if it is wrapping paper from an opened present exposing the innards to the elements giving natural ventilation and even rainwater collection, both of which are very environmentally friendly.

Birmingham has already had one iconic building built in recent times with the Bullring but this should have much more of an impact thanks to the true visibility it has thanks to the fact it's a tall building and if done to the standard of some of Shuttleworths previous work, including 30 St Mary’s Axe, it could become THE modern architectural icon for Birmingham.