Future Systems and Arup designed the Selfridges store in Birmingham. Paco Rabanne’s chainmail dresses were a precedent for the curvy, metallic exterior. About 15,000 metallic disks shimmer a blue color.
The fluid shape throughout the building establishes a “urban canyon,” with a central atrium and flashy appearance that makes it a landmark in the city. The futuristic building is approached from the parking garage via a glazed skybridge into one of several yellow oval openings, a design that touches on erotic. Or maybe just kitsch. The store and the connecting Bullring plaza came with a hefty pricetag, however: £500 million.
(U-g-g-B-o-y-(-Photograph-World-Sense-)– flickr/creative commons license)
(U-g-g-B-o-y-(-Photograph-World-Sense-)– flickr/creative commons license)
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(ell brown– flickr/creative commons license)
(ell brown– flickr/creative commons license)
(ell brown– flickr/creative commons license)
(ell brown– flickr/creative commons license)
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