Spaceplay Mini 003: Birmingham Central Library

Designed by Spaceplay
Manufactured by Spaceplay

Birmingham Central Library – Miniature Concrete Model
Hand-cast in fine concrete. Shaped by memory.

Some buildings define a city—and a generation’s sense of place.
Birmingham Central Library did exactly that. Opened in 1974, it stood at the heart of the city for decades, a massive inverted ziggurat of concrete that sparked fierce debate and deep affection in equal measure. Designed by John Madin, it became a touchstone for Brutalist architecture in Britain—loved, loathed, and never ignored.

Made for anyone who remembers standing beneath its overhangs, climbing its steps, or defending its right to exist.

This model keeps the Birmingham Central Library’s story alive on a shelf or desk—a small reminder that architecture can shape identity and that even demolished buildings deserve to be held onto in some form.