Brutalist Birmingham: 11 photos of the incredible buildings that people love and hate

We’ve taken a look at the most incredible brutalist buildings in Birmingham, including the ones which have been knocked down in recent years

Published 4th May 2023, 16:29 BST

Updated 4th May 2023, 18:10 BST

The Birmingham city skyline is a mix of old and new – from its industrial past, to the brutalist structures of the 60s, and now with its shiny new skyscrapers.

We love Brum and it’s brilliant architecture. With such a melting pot of architectural styles, there are also many brutalist buildings across the city. The Brutalist architecture has divided opinion over the years.

It is characterised by minimalist constructions that showcase the bare building materials and structural elements instead of more extravagant, decorative design.

Prince Charles has even commented on Birmingham’s brutalist architecture in the past, although he didn’t seem to be a fan of one building in particular. You can see which one in our gallery below.

Architecture is pretty subjective, and this of course can lead to different opinions, so we’ve decided to take a look at the most incredible brutalist buildings which are still standing in the city today.

Let’s take a look:

The Rotunda became known as the Coca Cola Tower in Birmingham in the 1970s. The cylindrical highrise building in a unique feature of the city centre. The Grade II listed building is 81 metres tall and was completed in 1965

1. The Rotunda, Moor Street

The Rotunda became known as the Coca Cola Tower in Birmingham in the 1970s. The cylindrical highrise building in a unique feature of the city centre. The Grade II listed building is 81 metres tall and was completed in 1965

Although some say it’s a bit of an eye sore, the Ringway is home to many different businesses. The Ringway Centre is a defining piece of brutalist architecture in the city, and first opened in 1962. Although it faces an uphill struggle against planning officers at Birmingham city council who are considering replacing the centre altogether

2. The Ringway Centre, Smallbrook Queensway

Although some say it’s a bit of an eye sore, the Ringway is home to many different businesses. The Ringway Centre is a defining piece of brutalist architecture in the city, and first opened in 1962. Although it faces an uphill struggle against planning officers at Birmingham city council who are considering replacing the centre altogether

The Sentinels are two 90 metre tall residential tower blocks on Holloway Head. The two towers, called Clydesdale Tower and Cleveland Tower, are both 31 storeys tall and were part of a major regeneration and council home building scheme following World War II which in the 1960s and 1970s saw the construction of hundreds of tower blocks

3. The Sentinels, Holloway Head

The Sentinels are two 90 metre tall residential tower blocks on Holloway Head. The two towers, called Clydesdale Tower and Cleveland Tower, are both 31 storeys tall and were part of a major regeneration and council home building scheme following World War II which in the 1960s and 1970s saw the construction of hundreds of tower blocks Photo: Photo by Oosoom (Wikipedia)

Tricorn House is one of the most striking buildings in Birmingham. It was built in the early 1970s and opened in 1976 and was originally designed so you could view both sides simultaneously from the front. It’s used for office work space

4. Tricorn House, Hagley Road

Tricorn House is one of the most striking buildings in Birmingham. It was built in the early 1970s and opened in 1976 and was originally designed so you could view both sides simultaneously from the front. It’s used for office work space