BOJ JOB, or ‘The Birmingham Effect’

Ben Waddington

Sat 30 Aug | 11am

GUIDED WALK

£0-11

Meet: King Edwards Place, Birmingham B1 2DY

All cities have their moments of beauty, intrigue and triumph as well as moments of ugliness, failure and bad design. Each city has its own balance of these elements, with some cities offering bountiful natural beauty, ancient universities, histories of nobility and integrated cultural economies to make them effortlessly appealing. Birmingham is not such a city; it is one of industrial origins and enterprise, and has developed industrial sensibilities that are still with us, raw and bold. Its quieter moments of achievement, individuality, beauty and transcendence often have to be signposted.

An architect friend called it 'The Birmingham Effect'; the cut corners, quick fixes and temporary newnesses that are at the expense of a harmonious, integrated and excellent city. Boj Job affectionately explores Birmingham's bodged solutions, in a walking meditation on urban design and city identity.

Footwear suitable for urban walking and weather-appropriate clothing is essential.

Accessible