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42-476: Congreve St. to Newhall St.: Newhall St. to Livery St.: Livery St. to Snow Hill: Colmore Row is a street in Birmingham City Centre in the centre of Birmingham , England, running from Victoria Square to just beyond Snow Hill station . It is traditionally the city's most prestigious business address. Colmore Row and its environs were designated a conservation area in 1971, which

84-546: A "concrete collar" "under which pedestrians would be forced to walk through intimidating, dark and stinking underpasses" and prevented the expansion of the city centre, a massive urban regeneration project known as the Big City Plan has begun. Running through the city centre is the Birmingham Fault, a sandstone ridge. The "High Places" document produced and published by Birmingham City Council encouraged

126-644: A mansard roof is credited to Pierre Lescot on part of the Louvre built around 1550. This roof design was popularised in the early 17th century by François Mansart (1598–1666), an accomplished architect of the French Baroque period. It became especially fashionable during the Second French Empire (1852–1870) of Napoléon III . Mansard in Europe (France, Germany and elsewhere) also means

168-604: A method of tax avoidance . One such example of this claim, from the 1914 book How to Make a Country Place , reads, "Monsieur Mansard is said to have circumvented that senseless window tax of France by adapting the windowed roof that bears his name." This is improbable in many respects: Mansart was a profligate spender of his clients' money, and while a French window tax did exist, it was enacted in 1798, 132 years after Mansart's death, and did not exempt mansard windows. Later examples suggest that either French or American buildings were taxed by their height (or number of storeys) to

210-605: A popular element incorporated into many designs, such as Main Building (Vassar College) , Poughkeepsie, New York, which shows a large mansard-roofed structure with two towers. The 1916 Zoning Resolution adopted by New York City promoted the use of mansard roofs; rules requiring the use of setbacks on tall buildings were conducive to the mansard design. In the 1960s and 1970s, a modernised form of mansard roof, sometimes with deep, narrow windows, became popular for both residential and commercial architecture in many areas of

252-526: A regeneration scheme by Argent Group PLC , regenerated an area of derelict warehouses alongside canals near Broad Street . Brindleyplace consists of three public squares, offices, retail units and the Sea Life Centre . Oozells Street Board School was refurbished to become the Ikon Gallery . On the opposite side of Broad Street Tunnel on the canal network is Gas Street Basin . Nearby is also

294-522: A roof. In London in the 1930s, building regulations decreed that "a building (not being a church or a chapel) shall not be erected of, or be subsequently increased to, a greater height than 80 ft., exclusive of two stories in the roof, and of ornamental towers". This was to stop buildings blocking the light, and effectively mandated mansard roofs for tall buildings. The style was popularised in France by architect François Mansart (1598–1666). Although he

336-403: Is a close cousin of the mansard. Both mansard and gambrel roofs fall under the general classification of "curb roofs" (a pitched roof that slopes away from the ridge in two successive planes). The mansard is a curb hip roof , with slopes on all sides of the building, and the gambrel is a curb gable roof, with slopes on only two sides. (The curb is a horizontal, heavy timber directly under

378-488: Is also defined as an American variation of a mansard with the lower pitches nearly vertical and larger in proportion to the upper pitches. In France and Germany, no distinction is made between gambrels and mansards – they are both called "mansards". In the French language, mansarde can be a term for the style of roof, or for the garret living space, or attic , directly within it. The mansard style makes maximum use of

420-421: Is also the hub for the national coach network. Birmingham Coach Station , which is currently in the process of being prepared for redevelopment, is owned and operated by National Express who are to move their headquarters to the city. It was built by Midland Red in 1929, and until 1997 was also used by Midland Red West as a depot. The shed to the rear of the coach station has been demolished and Spencer House,

462-552: Is based in the city centre whilst Birmingham City University has educational facilities there. In the Eastside area are Birmingham Metropolitan College's Matthew Boulton College campus and BMC's New Technology Institute . Birmingham Ormiston Academy is also located on the edge of the centre. The area is sometimes called Aston Triangle . Round this area are many high rise buildings providing student accommodation as well as high rise educational buildings. New Street station

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504-587: Is one of several arcades in the city centre. Digbeth is the focus for many independent retailers. Broad Street is the main centre for Birmingham's nightlife . There are further nightclubs in Digbeth . Cultural attractions include Birmingham Central Library in Chamberlain Square and Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and the Council House , Birmingham in the same building together with

546-542: Is the main railway station in the city centre with local and national railway connections. The station was first built in 1854 and rebuilt in 1967. The redevelopment of the station in a project named Gateway Plus was finished in 2016. The project cost £600m and included a new John Lewis department store and many other shops. The project took five years to build and is one of the most expensive and controversial regenerations in all of Europe . Moor Street , Snow Hill , Bordersley and Jewellery station are also located within

588-694: The International Convention Centre and Birmingham Symphony Hall , which is considered one of the best performance venues in the world. This overlooks Centenary Square and is adjacent to the Birmingham Repertory Theatre . Centenary Square was redeveloped in 1989 and given its current name in that year. Within Centenary Square is the Hall of Memory and Baskerville House . Other public squares in

630-566: The National Trust . The Birmingham Back to Backs are the last surviving court of back to back houses in the city. Colmore Row is the centre of the Colmore Row and Environs Conservation Area which consists of St. Philip's Cathedral . The Jewellery Quarter is also covered by a conservation area . Other quarters in the city centre are Birmingham Chinatown , Irish Quarter and Learning and Technology Quarter. Aston University

672-696: The clock tower , Big Brum . Thinktank opened in the Millennium Point complex in Eastside in 2002, replacing the Museum of Science and Industry on Newhall Street . The history of the Jewellery Quarter is documented in the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter . Also in the Jewellery Quarter is the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists and St. Paul's Gallery . A group of back-to-back houses on Hurst Street were restored by

714-565: The 1840s and 1850s, and between 1869 and 1900 all were replaced by the late Victorian commercial premises that still give the street its predominant character. After the Second World War , Colmore Row was to have formed part of the extensive Inner Ring Road system planned by City Engineer Herbert Manzoni . This would have necessitated demolishing all of the buildings between Colmore Row and Waterloo Street, but fell victim to increasing land values and awareness of conservation issues in

756-698: The 1850s, in an architectural movement known as Second Empire style . Second Empire influence spread throughout the world, frequently adopted for large civic structures such as government administration buildings and city halls , as well as hotels and railway stations . In the United States and Canada, and especially in New England , the Second Empire influence spread to family residences and mansions, often incorporated with Italianate and Gothic Revival elements. A mansard-topped tower became

798-411: The 1970s. The plans for the street included widening it to a width of 112 ft (34 m) with a central reservation of 14 ft (4.3 m) in width. Ironically, the likelihood of forthcoming comprehensive redevelopment protected many of the buildings from being demolished to make way for office developments (see Colmore Business District ), and today Colmore Row and the surrounding area has one of

840-556: The Inge Estate to the south. Development of the south of the lane started with the building of St Philip's Church (now St Philip's Cathedral ) in 1708. In 1746, a private Act of Parliament opened up the New Hall Estate to the north for development, with the first plots being let and developed from 1747 onwards. The road was renamed at this point. Initially, only the central stretch between Newhall Street and Livery Street

882-589: The United States. In many cases, these are not true mansard roofs but flat on top, the sloped façade providing a way to conceal heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment from view. The style grew out of interest in postmodern stylistic elements and the "French eclectic" house style popular in the 1930s and 1940s, and in housing also offered a way to provide an upper storey despite height restrictions. Houses with mansard roofs were sometimes described as French Provincial; architect John Elgin Woolf popularised it in

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924-547: The attic or garret space itself, not just the roof shape and is often used in Europe to mean a gambrel roof. Two distinct traits of the mansard roof – steep sides and a double pitch – sometimes lead to it being confused with other roof types. Since the upper slope of a mansard roof is rarely visible from the ground, a conventional single-plane roof with steep sides may be misidentified as a mansard roof. The gambrel roof style, commonly seen in barns in North America ,

966-452: The base of the roof, or that mansards were used to bypass zoning restrictions. This last explanation is the nearest to the truth: a Parisian law had been in place since 1783, restricting the heights of buildings to 20 metres (65 feet). The height was only measured up to the cornice line, making any living space contained in a mansard roof exempt. A 1902 revision of the law permitted building three or even four storeys within such

1008-468: The city centre bus stops AB to AF - which together are referred to as "Colmore Row Bus Station" with the IATA location identifier code ZBC. 52°28′53″N 1°54′00″W  /  52.4813°N 1.9001°W  / 52.4813; -1.9001 Birmingham City Centre Birmingham city centre , also known as Central Birmingham , is the central business district of Birmingham , England. The area

1050-705: The city centre include Victoria Square , Chamberlain Square and Old Square . There are two public squares within the Bull Ring complex and another in the Custard Factory . Retail is mainly focused on the Bullring Shopping Centre , Corporation Street , New Street and High Street . Other retail centres in the city centre are The Mailbox on Suffolk Street and Grand Central Shopping Centre above New Street station . Great Western Arcade

1092-700: The city centre, however. There are numerous multi-storey car parks located within the city centre, most owned by private companies. A new multi-storey car park is proposed at the rear of Millennium Point whilst the demolition of the multi-storey car park on Dale End has been granted permission by the city council as part of the Martineau Galleries redevelopment by the Birmingham Alliance. 52°28′47″N 1°54′11″W  /  52.4796°N 1.9030°W  / 52.4796; -1.9030 Mansard roof The earliest known example of

1134-547: The city centre. Ten suburban and Inter-City heavy rail routes service the city centre. The first railway station to be built in the city centre was Curzon Street railway station , which acted as the terminus for both the London and Birmingham Railway and the Grand Junction Railway, with lines connecting Birmingham to London and to Manchester and Liverpool respectively. The building, designed by Philip Hardwick ,

1176-596: The construction of highrise buildings on the ridge. The city centre core is the historic heart of the city, where old and new features are juxtaposed, roughly bounded by the former Birmingham Inner Ring Road . Its pre-eminent features include Chamberlain Square , Old Square , Victoria Square , Birmingham Town Hall , Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery , Birmingham Central Library , St Philip's Cathedral , Methodist Central Hall , Victoria Law Courts and other Birmingham Law Courts . The city centre contains many tourist destinations as well as landmarks. Brindleyplace ,

1218-475: The development and design framework for the area in a weakened state as the building subject to the decision was deemed to be of less national importance in respect to its local importance. The use of façadism on the building has since been seen as successful following the addition of Mansard roofs providing additional floorspace. This is a list of notable buildings on Colmore Row in order from west to east. In addition to Snow Hill station, Colmore Row also hosts

1260-412: The interior space of the attic and offers a simple way to add one or more storeys to an existing (or new) building without necessarily requiring any masonry . Often the decorative potential of the mansard is exploited through the use of convex or concave curvature and with elaborate dormer window surrounds. One frequently seen explanation for the popularity of the mansard style is that it served as

1302-411: The intersection of the two roof surfaces.) A significant difference between the two, for snow loading and water drainage, is that, when seen from above, gambrel roofs culminate in a long crease at the main ridge beam, whereas mansard roofs form a rectangular shaped crease, outlined by the curb beams, with a low-pitched roof inside this rectangle. French roof is often used as a synonym for a mansard but

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1344-528: The most consistent 19th century streetscapes in Central Birmingham. In the 1980s Barclays proposed a redevelopment of 55–73 Colmore Row. The scheme involved the demolition of the entire building except for the façades and the banking hall of the listed building. The local planning authority called for greater retention of the building structure as with other schemes in the area. The agents submitted multiple planning applications to put pressure on

1386-673: The office building above the main waiting room, has been boarded up. A planning application for the refurbishment of the building has been submitted and is awaiting planning permission. A temporary coach station on the opposite side of the road is currently being used. Cars are not officially encouraged in the city centre. Some areas have been pedestrianised to prevent cars interfering with pedestrian traffic, and some roundabouts with pedestrian subway systems have been replaced with signal-controlled junctions, e.g. on Smallbrook Queensway, Moor St Queensway, James Watt Queensway and St Chad's Circus near St Chad's Cathedral . However, there are still

1428-425: The planning department. As the planning department failed to come to a decision on two planning applications in their time periods, the bank took the case to a government department. Barclays and local planning authority failed to reach any deal in negotiations, which eventually broke down. The government saw that the retention of the façade was satisfactory as it allowed the economic reuse of the site. The decision left

1470-521: The remnants of the Birmingham Inner Ring Road (Queensway) in existence despite much demolition and downgrading, with a de facto heavily trafficked "half-ring" with vehicular underpasses for through traffic on St Chads Queensway, Great Charles St Queensway and Suffolk St Queensway. Some at-grade pedestrian crossings go over these roads, but most remain subways or bridges. This "half-ring" does arguably reduce traffic in other parts of

1512-513: Was built by the developers of Snowhill , adjacent to Snow Hill station. Birmingham city centre used to have a trolleybus system in the 19th century and early-20th century which extended towards the suburbs. The trolleybus system was replaced by motor buses and the city centre is now the hub for the bus system in the city. The buses mainly terminate at Bull Street, Corporation Street and Moor Street, Queensway. The majority of these buses are operated by National Express West Midlands . The city centre

1554-476: Was built in 1838 and is Grade I listed . The West Midlands Metro system, opened in 1999, terminates at Grand Central and has stops at Bull Street , St Chads , St Paul's and Jewellery Quarter . Line One is currently being extended to Centenary Square, and on to Five Ways in the future. In 2007, construction of a new viaduct to carry the Metro line over Great Charles Street Queensway commenced. The viaduct

1596-525: Was called Colmore Row (after the Colmore family, owners of the New Hall Estate). To the east, the stretch between Newhall Street and Congreve Street was renamed Bewdley Street . By 1777 the name of this section had been changed again, this time to Ann Street , after head of the family Ann Colmore. The short western stretch of road between Livery Street and Snow Hill, originally called Bull Lane ,

1638-404: Was extended twice in 1985. Colmore Row itself has 23 listed buildings, two listed at Grade I and two at Grade II*. Before this area of Birmingham was developed in the 18th century, Colmore Row was a country lane called New Hall Lane , connecting the roads from City centre to Dudley and West Bromwich and separating the farmlands of the New Hall Estate (built c. 1630) to the north from those of

1680-603: Was historically in Warwickshire . Following the removal of the Inner Ring Road , the city centre is now defined as being the area within the Middle Ring Road . The city centre is undergoing massive redevelopment with the Big City Plan , which means there are now nine emerging districts and the city centre is approximately five times bigger. Following the removal of the Inner Ring Road , which acted as

1722-526: Was not the inventor of the style, his extensive and prominent use of it in his designs gave rise to the term "mansard roof", an adulteration of his name. The design tradition was continued by numerous architects, including Jules Hardouin-Mansart (1646–1708), his great-nephew, who is responsible for Château de Dampierre in Dampierre-en-Yvelines . The mansard roof became popular once again during Haussmann's renovation of Paris beginning in

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1764-467: Was renamed Monmouth Street at some point before 1839. When the western half of Ann Street was realigned in 1879 as part of the creation of Council House Square (now Victoria Square ), both Monmouth Street and the remainder of Ann Street were renamed and integrated into Colmore Row. The original buildings of Colmore Row were the brick and stucco Georgian houses typical of the late 18th century. The 120-year leases on these properties started to expire in

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