Glenn Howells
Encyclopedia
Glenn Howells is a British
born architect
. His practice, Glenn Howells Architects, has offices in Birmingham
and London
. Howells founded his practice in London
in 1990 but later moved the main office to Birmingham
in 1992.
His first big break was being appointed architect for the Custard Factory
in Birmingham by developer Bennie Gray. The Custard Factory has gone to become an award winning example of affordable office development, aimed at small arts and design businesses, such as the Maverick TV
production company.
This was followed by the Market Place in Armagh
, Northern Ireland
. This elegant arts centre won numerous design awards, including an RIBA
regional award.
Notable projects include Timber Wharf and Burton Place for innovative developers Urban Splash
in Manchester
. In Birmingham, Urban Splash and Glenn Howells collaborated to design a refurbishment of The Rotunda
, a landmark highrise building that is currently being transformed from an office building into a residential building.
A more recent project is the Savill Gardens Visitor Centre at Windsor Great Park
, which opened in June 2006. The competition winning scheme run by The Crown Estate, will create a new landmark structure that creates a gateway to the listed gardens reflecting the character and quality of the park. The building unites all visitor facilities under one gently undulating grid shell roof creating a series of spectacular linked spaces. The grid shell roof is constructed from larch and clad with green oak from The Crown Estate's own sustainable sources from the Windsor Estate. The grid shell is supported by an earth structure on the entrance side which houses ancillary facilities, while the garden side is elevated on legs to open up spectacular views.
In October 2006, it was announced that Glenn Howells had been appointed to design a large hotel and residential scheme as part of the Snowhill
development in Birmingham. Initial renders showed a 40 storey grey curved tower with a smaller tower alongside. However a public exhibition revealed the tower to be 43 storeys and with amendments to the previously shown render. Now under construction, it would be one of the tallest buildings in the city and would consist of the tallest hotel building and tallest residential building in Birmingham.
In early 2007, Glenn Howells was reported in the Birmingham Post
as advocating a new modern art gallery for Birmingham, to add to the existing Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and Ikon Gallery
.
In March 2011 the government announced that John Madin
's Birmingham Central Library
was to be granted an immunity from listing, paving the way for the redevelopment of Paradise Circus. At the time of the announcement Glenn Howells was working with Argent
on proposals for the redevelopment, which remains controversial amongst supporters of the existing library building.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
born architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
. His practice, Glenn Howells Architects, has offices in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Howells founded his practice in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1990 but later moved the main office to Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
in 1992.
His first big break was being appointed architect for the Custard Factory
Custard Factory
The Custard Factory is an arts and media production centre in Birmingham, England .Located on the redeveloped site of the Bird's Custard factory in the industrial district of Digbeth, it is home to a community of businesses, primarily with an artistic and media slant, but also including...
in Birmingham by developer Bennie Gray. The Custard Factory has gone to become an award winning example of affordable office development, aimed at small arts and design businesses, such as the Maverick TV
Maverick (TV series)
Maverick is a western television series with comedic overtones created by Roy Huggins. The show ran from September 22, 1957 to July 8, 1962 on ABC and stars James Garner as Bret Maverick, a cagey, articulate cardsharp. Eight episodes into the first season, he was joined by Jack Kelly as his brother...
production company.
This was followed by the Market Place in Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. This elegant arts centre won numerous design awards, including an RIBA
Riba
Riba means one of the senses of "usury" . Riba is forbidden in Islamic economic jurisprudence fiqh and considered as a major sin...
regional award.
Notable projects include Timber Wharf and Burton Place for innovative developers Urban Splash
Urban Splash
Urban Splash is a British company which regenerates decaying industrial warehouses, mills, Victorian terraced houses and other buildings. These buildings have mainly been converted into housing...
in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. In Birmingham, Urban Splash and Glenn Howells collaborated to design a refurbishment of The Rotunda
Rotunda (Birmingham)
The Rotunda is an iconic, cylindrical highrise building in Birmingham, England. The Grade II listed building is tall and was completed in 1965. It was refurbished between 2004 and 2008 by Urban Splash with Glenn Howells who turned it into a residential building with serviced apartments on 19th and...
, a landmark highrise building that is currently being transformed from an office building into a residential building.
A more recent project is the Savill Gardens Visitor Centre at Windsor Great Park
Windsor Great Park
Windsor Great Park is a large deer park of , to the south of the town of Windsor on the border of Berkshire and Surrey in England. The park was, for many centuries, the private hunting ground of Windsor Castle and dates primarily from the mid-13th century...
, which opened in June 2006. The competition winning scheme run by The Crown Estate, will create a new landmark structure that creates a gateway to the listed gardens reflecting the character and quality of the park. The building unites all visitor facilities under one gently undulating grid shell roof creating a series of spectacular linked spaces. The grid shell roof is constructed from larch and clad with green oak from The Crown Estate's own sustainable sources from the Windsor Estate. The grid shell is supported by an earth structure on the entrance side which houses ancillary facilities, while the garden side is elevated on legs to open up spectacular views.
In October 2006, it was announced that Glenn Howells had been appointed to design a large hotel and residential scheme as part of the Snowhill
Snowhill
Snowhill is a mixed-use development by Ballymore between Snow Hill Queensway and Birmingham Snow Hill station in Birmingham City Centre, England. The £500 million phased scheme has been partly completed on the site of a former surface car park adjacent to the railway station. As part of the...
development in Birmingham. Initial renders showed a 40 storey grey curved tower with a smaller tower alongside. However a public exhibition revealed the tower to be 43 storeys and with amendments to the previously shown render. Now under construction, it would be one of the tallest buildings in the city and would consist of the tallest hotel building and tallest residential building in Birmingham.
In early 2007, Glenn Howells was reported in the Birmingham Post
Birmingham Post
The Birmingham Post newspaper was originally published under the name Daily Post in Birmingham, England, in 1857 by John Frederick Feeney. It was the largest selling broadsheet in the West Midlands, though it faced little if any competition in this category. It changed to tabloid size in 2008...
as advocating a new modern art gallery for Birmingham, to add to the existing Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and Ikon Gallery
Ikon Gallery
The Ikon Gallery is an English gallery of contemporary art, located in Brindleyplace, Birmingham. It is housed in the Grade II listed, neo-gothic former Oozells Street Board School, designed by John Henry Chamberlain in 1877. The gallery's current director is Jonathan Watkins.Ikon was set up to...
.
In March 2011 the government announced that John Madin
John Madin
John Hardcastle Dalton Madin is an English architect. He was born in Moseley, Birmingham on 23 March 1924. His company, known as John H D Madin & Partners from 1962 and the John Madin Design Group from 1968, were active in Birmingham for over 30 years. Some of the buildings his company designed...
's Birmingham Central Library
Birmingham Central Library
Birmingham Central Library is the main public library in Birmingham, England, and the largest non-national library in Europe. It is managed by Birmingham City Council...
was to be granted an immunity from listing, paving the way for the redevelopment of Paradise Circus. At the time of the announcement Glenn Howells was working with Argent
Argent
In heraldry, argent is the tincture of silver, and belongs to the class of light tinctures, called "metals". It is very frequently depicted as white and usually considered interchangeable with it...
on proposals for the redevelopment, which remains controversial amongst supporters of the existing library building.