Warwickshire Masonic Temple / Clarendon Suites
Nothing too special but it has some cool little features, sky lights, 70's/80's decor about, and a good example of Brutalist architecture by John Madin, a fairly well known Birmingham architect.
History
The biggest merit here is it's architect, John Madin, an active architect from 1950 who had stepped in after the war helping out with the New Towns. He'd designed many buildings throughout Birmingham including the central library, Quayside Tower, and Pebble Mill.
Brochure of the drawings around 1970
In 1971, he designed and helped build the Warwickshire Masonic Temple on Hagely Road. A building for meeting rooms, conferences, and banqueting with a bar, large dining halls, and 3 'penthouse Suites'. The building was built with an entrance from the West in the car park and includes a fairly symmetrical design, it has kitchens at the top, then dining halls with removable partition walls, an entrance hall with 2 floors that lead into various meeting rooms with dining facilities. The building also has a larger sweet at the central front named the Warwick Suite and 3 penthouse suites at a 3rd level with access to the roof.
Taken in 1972 in the dining area
The building functioned as Clarendon Suites by the Warwickshire Masonic Brethren until 2014 when it was closed after plans to relocate it's uses to another site and has since been in a state of limbo due to planning. It will likely be demolished soon and it's close location on Hagely Road near the centre of Birmingham makes it ideal for official and residential uses.
Drawings of the site 1971
Pictures
It's nothing too exciting but still worth a little mention, if for nothing else an archive for after it's gone. It has some interesting 70s style decor inside, it did used to have some interesting wallpaper but has since been painted over. A couple bits are quite interesting, especially the inner hall which has some nice sky lights, stairs, and interesting cushioned doors. These features will probably be the focus of this report, I quite like this style, it doesn't compare to older decor but it's beginning to age nicely and I found it a nice surprise. Went with DRZ after having driven passed it enough times.
External from the North East
John Madin & T. Elvins and Sons
Dining halls at the rear
Lighting in centre dining hall
Entrance bar
Kitchens
First look into the inner hall
Sky lights
One of the smaller suites
Signs, fire hose, and another dining section
Warwick suite
Bars in dining halls
Penthouse
But yeah, don't get too excited! Thanks for looking.
Nothing too special but it has some cool little features, sky lights, 70's/80's decor about, and a good example of Brutalist architecture by John Madin, a fairly well known Birmingham architect.
History
The biggest merit here is it's architect, John Madin, an active architect from 1950 who had stepped in after the war helping out with the New Towns. He'd designed many buildings throughout Birmingham including the central library, Quayside Tower, and Pebble Mill.
Brochure of the drawings around 1970
In 1971, he designed and helped build the Warwickshire Masonic Temple on Hagely Road. A building for meeting rooms, conferences, and banqueting with a bar, large dining halls, and 3 'penthouse Suites'. The building was built with an entrance from the West in the car park and includes a fairly symmetrical design, it has kitchens at the top, then dining halls with removable partition walls, an entrance hall with 2 floors that lead into various meeting rooms with dining facilities. The building also has a larger sweet at the central front named the Warwick Suite and 3 penthouse suites at a 3rd level with access to the roof.
Taken in 1972 in the dining area
The building functioned as Clarendon Suites by the Warwickshire Masonic Brethren until 2014 when it was closed after plans to relocate it's uses to another site and has since been in a state of limbo due to planning. It will likely be demolished soon and it's close location on Hagely Road near the centre of Birmingham makes it ideal for official and residential uses.
Drawings of the site 1971
Pictures
It's nothing too exciting but still worth a little mention, if for nothing else an archive for after it's gone. It has some interesting 70s style decor inside, it did used to have some interesting wallpaper but has since been painted over. A couple bits are quite interesting, especially the inner hall which has some nice sky lights, stairs, and interesting cushioned doors. These features will probably be the focus of this report, I quite like this style, it doesn't compare to older decor but it's beginning to age nicely and I found it a nice surprise. Went with DRZ after having driven passed it enough times.
External from the North East
John Madin & T. Elvins and Sons
Dining halls at the rear
Lighting in centre dining hall
Entrance bar
Kitchens
First look into the inner hall
Sky lights
One of the smaller suites
Signs, fire hose, and another dining section
Warwick suite
Bars in dining halls
Penthouse
But yeah, don't get too excited! Thanks for looking.
