Metropolitan House

Metropolitan House is a tall office building converted into residential apartments, standing at the Five Ways intersection with 19 stories and a distinctive rectangular tower form. The structure features modernist design characteristic of 1970s British architecture, with clean lines and a functional layout visible from street level.

The building was constructed between 1972 and 1974 during Birmingham's post-war urban renewal period, when the city invested heavily in new commercial developments. Its completion marked the height of modernist building initiatives reshaping the city's skyline.

The structure exemplifies John Madin's interpretation of modernist architecture, reflecting British design principles of the 1970s through its form and materials.

The tower can be viewed from the street and is easily spotted from the Five Ways junction, a major intersection in central Birmingham. Note that the interior is now private residential space not open to the public.

Radio transmission equipment on the roof has broadcast local stations across the region for decades, serving as an important infrastructure point in the city's media landscape. Few visitors realize that the tower's highest point contains active broadcasting equipment.

Inception: 1974

Architects: John Madin

Floors above the ground: 19

GPS coordinates: 52.47318,-1.91961

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:11