Selfridges Birmingham

The Selfridges Building is a landmark building in Birmingham, England. The building is part of the Bullring Shopping Centre and houses Selfridges Department Store. The building was completed in 2003 at a cost of £60 million^[1] and designed by the architecture firm Future Systems. It has a steel framework with sprayed concrete facade.^[2] Since its construction, the building has become an iconic architectural landmark and seen as a major contribution to the regeneration of Birmingham.^[3] It is one of the backgrounds as part of the Architecture theme in Windows 7.

Selfridges Building
View from Park St car park
General information
Type	Department Store
Architectural style	Blobitecture
Location	Park Street, Birmingham, England
Coordinates	52°28′40.02″N 1°53′32.13″W
Construction started	1999
Completed	September 2003 (2003-09)
Cost	£60 million
Owner	Selfridges & Co.
Technical details
Structural system	Steel framework with sprayed concrete facade
Floor count	6
Floor area	14,864m² (160,000sq ft)
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Jan Kaplický, Amanda Levete
Architecture firm	Future Systems
Structural engineer	Ove Arup & Partners
Services engineer	Ove Arup & Partners
Main contractor	Laing O'Rourke

Architecture

The architecture firm Future Systems were appointed by Selfridge's then chief executive, Vittorio Radice, to design only the third store outside London. Although Selfridges was physically integrated with the Bullring Shopping Centre the client wanted a distinct design approach which would set the store apart from the rest of the development and become an instantly recognisable signpost for the brand.^[1] The building's facade is curved, wrapping around the corner of Moor Street and Park Street. The facade comprises 15,000 anodised aluminium discs mounted on a blue background.

Awards

• RIBA Award for Architecture 2004
• Concrete Society Awards, Overall Winner 2004
• British Constructional Steelwork Association's Structural Steel Awards 2004^[4]
• Royal Fine Art Commission Trust, Retail Innovation 2004
• Institution of Civil Engineers, Project Award Winner 2004
• Civic Trust Award 2004
• Retail Week Awards, Retail Destination of the Year 2004

Gallery

• 
  Detail of aluminium disc cladding
• 
  View from the Bull Ring
• 
  Road level view of building
• 
  Interior escalators
• 
  Side view of the building