A detailed planning application has been submitted to Birmingham
City Council by Hammerson for a public art commission, which will
sit within the public realm at Bullring's new dining quarter,
Spiceal Street.
The new destination, which will comprise three new restaurants
will open during winter 2011 and will also incorporate a new water
feature and living green wall.
Birmingham-born artist, Wolfgang Buttress, has designed a 13.5m
structure, which will stand adjacent to the new Browns Bar and
Brasserie.
Inspired by the concept of the soundwaves created when a tree is
cut down and falls to the ground, Wolfgang has created a sculpture
with a stainless steel core, which incorporates a spiral created
from the copper reclaimed from the roof of the Spiral Café
which stood on the site.
Following approval of the Spiceal Street scheme in December
2010, Hammerson has involved Council officers and representatives
of the Conservation and Heritage Panel in the design process.
Subject to planning approval, the public art will be unveiled
during the opening of Spiceal Street later this year, following
which a full cultural events schedule will be put in place as
Spiceal Street offers the city a new dining and social hub set in
improved public realm.
It has also been confirmed that the remaining structure of the
Spiral Café will be relocated to Newhall Square, the site of
the former Science Museum, Newhall Street in Central Birmingham.
The mixed use scheme developers RO St Bernards will make the spiral
café a centrepiece of the new square, surrounded by offices,
hotels and gallery space.
Relocation of the Spiral Café was not a planning
requirement but Councillor Peter Douglas Osborn, Chair of the
Planning Committee that approved the Spiceal Street scheme
commented "I am pleased to see that Hammerson has sought to keep
the Spiral Café in the city as well as providing replacement
public art."
Commenting on the Spiceal Street public art, Russell Beresford,
Hammerson's Project Director said: "The public realm has been
designed as a focal point for the scheme for visitors to enjoy and
the new public art will give Spiceal Street a distinct identity
within the city. Including the copper from the Spiral
Café ensures what has become a popular piece of Bullring
heritage remains within the centre."
Bullring is owned by a partnership between three property
developers and investors: Hammerson plc, Future Fund and Henderson
Global Investors Ltd. The scheme is managed by Hammerson.