Brutalist architecture in the city from John Madin

Brutalist architecture has featured strongly in Birmingham city centre over the last 60 years, with one of the most prolific architects being John Madin. Now you may have never heard of him, but I can guarantee you know at least one of his buildings as during the late 50s and 60s he had his hand in many of the construction projects of the day.

These included the Central Library, now gone and replaced by the Paradise development along with Pebble Mill, the former home of BBC in the Midlands, another major work from the man.

Although not the architect for Smallbrook Queensway, he did design the AEU union building, the building by Pagoda Island on Smallbrook Queensway which was demolished in 2005, 50 years after it was built, and now the Radisson hotel stands there.

The Powergen site in Shirley, Solihull, the former CEGB building is another piece of work from the architect. The Nat West tower being another landmark piece of his work.

It seems today this brutalist, stark and concrete look has fallen out of favour and many of his constructions are no more. With the redevelopment of Smallbrook Queensway, it would seem ever-evolving Birmingham is moving forward from this dramatic form of design with the form becoming very much a thing of the past.