“The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.”
John Milton – Paradise Lost
Which could well apply to what some people think of the old Birmingham Central Library and surrounding Paradise Circus area which will soon be no more as demolition work is about to begin on the 40 year old Brutalist masterpiece designed by the architect John Madin. I took a walk around the area on a chilly, wet January day to take a last look before it disappears forever and is replaced by the shiny new £500m development to be called simply ‘Paradise‘.
View from the New Library of Birmingham
Thomas Attwood on the Library Steps
Library from the Art Gallery
Library Layers
In Amongst the Concrete of Paradise Place
Slightly Out
Caught!
A Patch of Sky
A Bigger Patch of Sky
Down Congreve Passage
The plaque on the side of the building is a quote from William Hutton, a poet and historian of Birmingham. It says:
“Descending a hill of eminence, I had a full view, under a bright sun, of Cader Idris. If I was asked what length would be a line drawn from the eye to the summit? I should answer, ‘to the best of my judgement one mile.’ I believe the space is more than five; so fallacious is vision when it takes in only one object, and that elevated.”
Peace in Paradise
Plans for a New Paradise
If I’m around in 10 years time when we see Paradise Regained (sic) I’ll create a post to celebrate that as well.
Peter Cripps | Photography 
[…] art, the Custard Factory, the Bullring Market, New Street station, the Mailbox, Brindley Place, Paradise Circus and finally the Library of Birmingham and Victoria […]
[…] and redeveloped as a flash new commercial and retail district (to be called, of all things, “Paradise“). I initially rejected the image because it was blurred – I had not used a fast enough […]