John Madin

John Madin is an English architect. He was born in Moseley, Birmingham, circa 1925. His company, known as John H D Madin & Partners from 1962 and the John Madin Design Group from 1968, were active in Birmingham for over 30 years. Some of the buildings his company designed have now been demolished. Societies, such as the 20th Century Society have campaigned to have some of his buildings listed, but have not yet achieved this. English Heritage has twice recommended the Central Library for listing but political and economic factors have been used to oppose it. The Minister is at present considereing her decision (2008).

Biography

He served in Egypt with the Royal Engineers in World War II.

Madin is the indisputable giant of post-war Birmingham architecture. Although dismissed as derivative, Madin's reinterpretations of contemporary styles can now be regarded as significant works in their own right. Madin's work has been much neglected and is not highly regarded by the current political leadership within Birmingham. Clive Dutton, the city's Director of Planning and Regeneration has described Madin's Central Library as a “concrete monstrosity”. [ [http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=426&storycode=3097910 Birmingham reveals new library plans - Building Design ] ] There are currently plans to demolish the library and replace it with a new building on Centenary Square. Few voices of opposition have been raised to the proposed demolition and it is possible that Birmingham could lose what some believe is its best post-war building. Ironically, just as Birmingham, once famed for its brutalist architecture, has begun to demolish many of its buildings from the 60s and 70s, so popular appreciation for the architecture of this period has increased.

Notable buildings

*AEU Building, Smallbrook Queensway, Birmingham (1955 - demolished 2005)
*Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Birmingham (1958)
*The Post and Mail building, Birmingham (1960, demolished 2005)
*Birmingham Central Library and Paradise Forum (1974)
*Neville House, Hagley Road, Birmingham (1977)
*Shell Mex and BP House, Edgbaston, Birmingham
*BBC Pebble Mill, Birmingham (demolished 2005)
*West Bromwich Police headquarters
*Redditch Central Library
*The Sandwell Centre, West Bromwich
*Metropolitan House, Five Ways, Birmingham

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/4104476.stm Interview and background; July 2005]
* [http://society.guardian.co.uk/communities/news/0,,1545650,00.html Interview, 10 August 2005] in The Guardian.
* [http://www.riskybuildings.org.uk/docs/01commerce/ Chamber of Commerce and Industry building]
* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4265884177243294655&hl=en BBC Documentary, 1965]

References