Madin's Edgbaston
A look at Madin’s housing with Alan Clawley
Saturday 22 June 2013, 10.30 - 16.00
Cost Members £20
Non Members £25
John Madin's most prominent buildings are undoubtedly his commercial offices and Birmingham's Central Library which is widely regarded as his best single work. The library closes in June but the campaign led by Friends of the Central Library goes on.
Less well known but no less interesting is Madin's work for Lord Calthorpe, the owner of the 1600-acre family estate in Edgbaston a few miles west of the city centre.
Madin was invited in 1957 to draw up a Master Plan for the development of the estate and to become its Chief Architect. Over the following two decades the young Madin grasped this rare opportunity to design and built a new commercial zone on the Hagley Road as well as many large housing schemes utilising the rambling gardens of redundant Victorian villas. He was thus able to raise the overall housing density of the estate in line with the rest of the city in such a subtle way that the change was hardly noticed.
The walk will concentrate on Madin's housing schemes. Starting and finishing at Five Ways rail station, one stop from New Street, the tour will take in a selection of schemes to show various phases of Madin's career including the interior of one of Madin’s houses in Estria Road and the Warwick Crest residential tower.
Lunch (not included) will be taken in a pleasant pub.
Total walking distance is 4 miles and it can be done by wheelchair users.
Meet at Five Ways station for a 10:30 start (timed for the arrival of the 08:23 from London Euston, change at Birmingham New Street)
Finishing at 16:00, again at Five Ways ready for the 16:29, arriving London Euston at 18:14