Place Research – Jewellery Quarter
Following on from our first full place research visit to Bournville, we decided to look at another local place with a very different distinct character. Since the 18th Century, the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter has specialised in the manufacturing of jewellery. Over the last thirty years, there has been a post-industrial shift away from the West, and the area is undergoing a much needed re-vision. Now the area has a high concentration of residential apartments. Largely, these have been converted from the factories and specialist buildings of Victorian and 20th century industries, with some, mostly sensitive infill. Despite such significant change of social basis, the Jewellery Quarter has preserved its strong place identity and unique qualities. As such, the area still stands as an example of world-leading industrial-revolution heritage.
In May 2023, members of our Place Research team conducted research to understand the essence of this dynamic place. Being located at the southern-eastern edge of the Jewellery Quarter, we had an opportunity to reflect on our regular experience with the neighbourhood.
The Neighbourhood
Firstly, we summarised the key influences on the sense of place and level of social-interaction. This is an area with a distinct character, which has been slowly evolving from traditional work>live industries to a contemporary live>work masterplan. It has established core nodes of use, primarily around central Golden Square and developing along Caroline Street. There are also various gaps in provision and a broad inconsistency in both range and types of applied public realm improvements across the neighbourhood, especially towards its edges.
Overall, the Jewellery Quarter layout creates a rectangular grid with a permeable network. The BT Tower acts as a clear visual landmark aiding navigation throughout the quarter. Many industrial buildings are preserved but most are converted, and some are still vacant.
A wide variety of typologies, ranging in scale and form of architecture and public realm. Much of the facades and some street furniture has high quality, crafted ornamentation. Some infill 60s, 90s and 2000+ office/residential, differing dramatically from vernacular. Blocks typology varies, but consistency form and massing within blocks. A hard material area, with vegetation limited to parks and spaces.
1. More dynamic around the centres and specific streets, but fades towards many areas of the south-west, north-east edges.
2. A shift to dense residential areas has increased refinement of facades and landscape in many areas, though not consistently.
Generally a very connected and permeable street network. Currently relies on simple definitions: pavement/road, but emerging and dedicated cycleways.
3. Low traffic neighbourhood principles (LTN) are being adopted in some places, but not yet a network.
4. The railway usefully goes underground, so does not create a barrier.
5. The cemetery parkland provides an alternative, active movement route – though it does not strategically connect to other green-infrastructure or public-realms as a network.
Two main linear nodes (located aligned to traditional street network). Within these nodes, form movement routes with aligned activity.
6. Public spaces, e.g. Golden Sq. are centres of activity, but are separated. Several potentially great public spaces are underutilised as single use, car parking spaces.
7. Main traditional high street – Jewellery retail. New social areas developing as bars, cafes, etc. Some streetscape improvements are in place to support and promote.
Green infrastructure forms independent amenity spaces in specific park areas, though unfortunately do not link to form networks. Generally the JQ area has a hardscape character, as identified as a heritage feature. This leaves an uncertain approach or opportunity to integrate natural elements and wider features.
8. The only exceptions being the spatially separated parks and squares: Golden Square, Key Hill, Brookfields Cemeteries on the northern neighbourhood boundary, and St Pauls Square to the south.
9. Even the Birmingham canal, running on the South-East boundary is largely hardscape.
SPACE – Golden Square
Golden Square is one of only a few successful public open spaces in the neighbourhood. Its layout separates key zones of activity, each adaptable to a range of uses which can vary throughout the year. This includes some formal planned events and festivals, social activities and play.
STREET – Warstone Lane
The traditional, linear corridor high street of the Jewellery Quarter. It consists mostly of long-standing jewellery shops on one or both sides, with occasional cafes and restaurants.
Summary
Key Strengths
The retention and adaptive re-use of historic built fabric, plus mostly sensitive in-fill development gives a distinctive place identity. The quarter increasingly offers a diverse range of uses, especially around new centres.
Key aspects for Reflection
The overall transition from historic to residential area takes time. The area has pockets of vacant use, of formerly-used industrial buildings and much unused, or hardly-used open space (e.g. an open car-park). Socio-economic and community facilities have improved over the last twenty years, but are still somewhat limited to certain areas of the quarter. This limits the range of functions both for local residents and as a destination for visitors.
