Normally I wouldn't post a demolition photo for a "today's archidose," but given my recent review of two books on Brutalist architecture ? Concrete Concept and Heroic ? it seemed appropriate to feature this photo of architect John Madin's Birmingham Central Library (1974) coming down. In my review I considered that the popularity of Brutalism today ? evidenced by the two books but also through toys and websites ? would result in the preservation of more concrete edifices from the 1950s to 1970s. But Birmingham Central Library, whose fate was sealed with the opening of the Mecanoo-designed replacement library in 2013, is obviously an exception ? and an unfortunate one. According to the BBC, "Once fully demolished, [the library] will be replaced with office space as part of the £500m Paradise regeneration scheme."
Failed Architecture has a post on "Birmingham's Central Library and the Battle over Brutalism" worth reading, and at bottom are some apt words by UK-based photographer Gethin Thomas, who took the March 14 photo of the building's demolition (more can be found on his Flickr page, though I feel like posting only one here).

Words by Gethin Thomas:
March 2016 Demolition.

This building was opened in 1974 and was the third library in the vicinity. It was designed by John Madin, a Birmingham architect and its inverted ziggurat form is a powerful example of the Brutalist style.

Looked at closely this building which was ne...