Something Spectacular

The city of Birmingham in England recently opened its new central library –an incredible building quite unlike anything anywhere else, both inside and out. It's a futuristic set of blocks piled on top of each other like Lego bedecked with gold and intricately crafted metalwork, dominating the skyline and so audacious that one thinks one has been transported into a future world. A year or so ago I visited the city and saw it being built and thought it was hideous, but now that it has been completed I have changed my mind completely. Because boldness is a virtue, and this building is nothing if not bold. But it cherishes its past too –the golden round structure at the top of the building contains within it the original Shakespeare room of the city's old Victorian library, lovingly restored and reconstructed within this magical temple to books and writing and learning. This picture was my first view of the completed library, taken on a windy day that sent clouds carouseling across an otherwise bright sky. The light was interesting, to say the least, and formed a rather magical backdrop to a magical building. Location: Birmingham, England