New spin – same old vision

Alan Clawley reports on a familiar tale and a misleading headline.

Why architects resign

Alan Clawley on the latest controversy to hit the New Street station redevelopment.

Showing off in Cannes

Alan Clawley wonders whether Birmingham city council’s time in the south of France might be better spent elsewhere.

Our vintage baths

Alan Clawley on the role our past can play in the present.

Whitby and Gambles

Alan Clawley comments on the two main architects of the Library of Birmingham’s future plans.

The power of nature

Alan Clawley reflects on a topical issue.

Where shall they live?

Alan Clawley wonders about Birmingham’s housing strategy .

The library as film studio

Alan Clawley puts forward a novel idea.

Motorbikin’

Alan Clawley reminisces about his youth and a golden era of local engineering.

Robbing Peter to pay Paul

Does Birmingham city council spend wisely? Alan Clawley thinks not.

Throwing it away

Alan Clawley on a lack of council service.

What’s so special about the A38?

Alan Clawley talks about the closest thing we have to our ‘own’ motorway.

Birmingham bling

Alan Clawley on the city centre’s attention-grabbing architecture.

Madin house listed

Alan Clawley has news for admirers of controversial architect John Madin.

Small enough to fail

Alan Clawley on the hypocrisy of bank bail-outs.

Old and new?

Alan Clawley talks about new architecture in an old way.

Brutal or brutalist?

Alan Clawley on recent developments in the listed building world.

Fast forward

Alan Clawley talks about city planning, and the lack thereof.

Open for viewing

Alan Clawley describes his visit to the newly-opened Library of Birmingham.

The degeneration of Paradise Circus

Alan Clawley highlights the strange machinations that have blighted parts of Birmingham city centre.

Paradise Circus regeneration a scam?

Alan Clawley takes issue over the designation of an area labelled in need of ‘regeneration’.

John Madin’s other library

Alan Clawley with a reminder that when the architects in John Madin’s office were working up plans for a new central library for Birmingham, they were also designing one for Redditch.

When the state steps in

Alan Clawley looks back at the controversy surrounding the old and new Birmingham Libraries.

Remembering Elmdon

All the attention today is on the future of Birmingham International Airport but it’s interesting to reflect on its past when it was known just as Elmdon Airport, writes Alan Clawley.

Library building ‘obsolete’

Birmingham City Council officials have written a report to the Cabinet stating that the 40-year-old Central Library building is not only vacant but ‘obsolete’ as well, reveals Alan Clawley.