The design proposals are for the redevelopment of the former Axis House site to deliver a new sustainable urban neighbourhood in Birmingham, on a key gateway to the Westside district. Goods Station is a landscape-led residential masterplan featuring five buildings which will frame a new public space at the heart of the development.
The scheme will offer a mix of residential accommodation types, providing 990 homes, 720 student residential beds, and 229 serviced apartments within the 5 buildings.
Taller buildings, reaching up to 49 storeys, are positioned to the north and east of the site, engaging with the city core and emerging north-south tall building ‘spine’ aligned to the A38 highway. The building massing steps down in height to 10 storeys in an anticlockwise spiral, responding to the scale of the existing surrounding buildings and maximising solar permeability into the new public space at the centre of the site.
The tall buildings engage with the city skyline and establish a visual connection and a gateway linking the city core to the west side of the city. The stepped massing at low level is celebrated through the introduction of roof terraces, which overlook the new public spaces and layered activity, as well as creating a human level scale-built form which steps back to the taller building volumes above.
Shops, restaurants, and a large food hall with active ground-floor façades will draw people into the new central public space. Spill-out areas extend indoor activities into the public realm, creating spaces ideal for outdoor dining, pop-up events, and casual gatherings, providing a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor activities. The scheme will add vibrancy to the area, attract visitors, and nurture a strong sense of community.
The proposed building material palette is inspired by the rich industrial heritage of both Birmingham and the site itself. The bronze colour toned facades of the taller residential towers compliment the light stone historic buildings within Birmingham’s civic core, whilst adopting a modern material palette which responds to, and integrates with, Birmingham’s developing cityscape and skyline. The use of red brick to the mid and lower height buildings introduces a familiar robust material and brings a natural warmth to the central landscaped space. The public realm integrates a similar material palette that ties the whole masterplan together.
The proposed development will be a dynamic new destination in Birmingham City Centre, enhancing the urban experience for both residents and visitors. By fostering interaction and engagement, the development promises to enrich the community’s social fabric.