The Jewellery Quarter: field trip to Birmingham

Last Thursday a group of first year students on the BA Urban Design, Planning and Development went on a field trip to the Jewellery Quarter (JQ) in Birmingham to find out more about the history, design, use and future development of the area - the area is unique with over 200 listed buildings. The field trip was based at The Hive, a mixed use development in the JQ with plenty of its own history...

As well as being steeped in history the area is very photogenic, so here is the story in photos. Click on the blue links for more information...

At Snow Hill station

On the way to the Jewellery Quarter

Arriving at The Hive...

...for a series of presentations about the JQ Townscape Heritage Project and 
the JQ Neighbourhood Plan which is on Instagram @jqplan

...and a tour of The Hive

the bakery

the basement (under development)

the wormery - providing compost for the rooftop urban microfarm

the old safe

inside the safe

basement structures

the Gallery...

...where we were shown round the Fading City exhibition by one of the artists @traceyathorne 
the exhibition also features work by artist and urban explorer @jemma_gunning_printmaker

And the tour of the JQ...

For a look inside visit 28DL Urban Exploration

The Alabaster & Wilson building - take a look inside...

...and at the history of jewellery making in the building

up on Legge Lane

take a look at the proposed development for Legge Lane

Victoria Works

Unity Works

The Button Factory - now a pub/restaurant

The Chamberlain Clock - soon to be restored

The Big Peg - built in the 1960s to house jewellery workshops and now office space

 

Unity Works again - plans for development fell through and then this happened

Thomas Fattorini - established in 1827 and still a family owned business today

Doors of the JQ...more doors here

For more information about Urban Design courses at Oxford Brookes, take a look here:

MA Urban Design
BA Urban Design, Planning and Development