The Un-necessary Monument? The Origins, Impact and Potential Conservation of Birmingham Central Library

The conservation of recent heritage is contentious, and the issue of large-scale city-centre Brutalist postwar buildings has proved more contentious than most. Many of these buildings have attracted neither widespread public support nor positive critical response. The example of Birmingham’s Central Library is used to explore these issues, as it has produced conflicting responses from expert organisations, politicians, professionals and the public. The structure occupies a high-value site and, if realised, the income from its sale could be used for a range of civic activities. The intensely polarised debate was unsuccessful in changing entrenched opinions, and the building was prepared for demolition in mid-2015.