The raised pedestrian acropolis that defines Birmingham's civic centre has finally opened its latest addition: the new central library. Mecanoo's decorative and optimistic contribution joins the company of a Greek temple, an inverted ziggurat (for now), a recently scrubbed concrete theatre and a shopping complex focused around a paved area that is determined to maintain its status as the 'Agora of the Midlands'. Architect francine Houben describes her contribution as 'an ode to the circle' and marks its arrival with a large round puncture through the foreground offering passers-by cruise-ship type views down to activities taking place in a new and inspiring underworld. Before them stands a mountain of glass boxes laced in protruding silver and gold intersecting bangles, set diagrams whose bounding geometry is seemingly undetermined. Internally the floorplates of the nine-storey space are excavated in a meandering vertical path like a giant version of the perforated pages of the children's book, The Hungry Caterpillar.
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