Oozells Square through the seasons: Summer 2020 to Spring 2021

The trees in Oozells Square at Brindleyplace are wonderful to see at any time of year. Here we check them out during Summer 2020, Autumn 2020, Winter 2020 and Spring 2021. From lush green leaves, to brown leaves. From a wet and rainy square to the end of the Cherry Blossom. Last summer the restaurants had outdoor seating spaces on astroturf. Hopefully they can reopen soon.

Summer 2020

It was August 2020, and there was astroturf outside of Piccolino Italian Restaurant. Meanwhile there was green leaves on all the trees in Oozells Square.

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It was a bit wet from the rain, and was more space to set up outdoor seating for Siamaiz Thai Restaurant. This was during Eat Out to Help Out (restaurants had only reopened that July).

dndimg alt="Oozells Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Astroturf Oozells Sq rain (Aug 2020) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Autumn 2020

It is now October 2020, and the outdoor seating on the astroturf for Piccolino and Siamaiz was still there. By then, all the leaves had turned brown, with leaf fall going on.

dndimg alt="Oozells Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Autumn Oozells Square Bplace (Oct 2020) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Sadly by the time November came around, the 2nd lockdown had began, and all restaurants had to close, and would remain closed throughout the winter, and into the 3rd lockdown. Still the trees looked nice at the time.

dndimg alt="Oozells Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Autumn Oozells Square Bplace (Oct 2020) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Winter 2020

Early evening in Oozells Square during December 2020. All the leaves had fallen, and the outdoor seating was gone. Just after the 2nd lockdown ended and we were in Tier 3 restrictions. Was heavily raining at the time.

dndimg alt="Oozells Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Oozells Sq Bplace 04122020 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The view towards the IKON Gallery, near the Pergola Sculpture by Paul de Monchaux (1998). The rain and the reflections adds to the scene after dark.

dndimg alt="Oozells Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Oozells Sq Bplace 04122020 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Spring 2021

Four months later at the beginning of April 2021 during the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. The famous cherry blossom is on the trees in Oozells Square. Was a handful of people about on the way I walked past here. Added to the view now is The Mercian.

dndimg alt="Oozells Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Blossom Oozells Sq BP 03042021 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

All the restaurants here have been closed for about 6 months now. Hopefully they will be allowed to reopen soon. But first they will need to get the outdoor seating back out again. But the cherry blossom might be finished by then.

dndimg alt="Oozells Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Blossom Oozells Sq BP 03042021 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown

Oozells Square in Brindleyplace

Welcome to Oozells Square at Brindleyplace. It was developed from the late 1990s and the main focus building of the square is the IKON Gallery in the former Oozells Street Board School. The square is surrounded by the following buildings: Six, Seven, Eight and Nine Brindleyplace. With Oozells Street and Cumberland Street linking the square to Broad Street. Sculptures by Paul de Monchaux.

Oozells Square got it's name from Oozells Street which runs from Broad Street towards Central Square at Brindleyplace. The other road that crosses Oozells Square is Cumberland Street. As well as the IKON Gallery the square features the following buildings: Six Brindleyplace, Seven Brindleyplace, Eight Brindleyplace and Nine Brindleyplace. Mostly offices, but some of the buildings have restaurants at ground level.

IKON Gallery

For my IKON Gallery post click this link: From the Oozells Street Boarding School to the IKON Gallery.

I'll keep this brief as I covered the history and see more photos in my IKON Gallery post (link above). Built as the Oozells Street Board School in 1877 by by local architects Martin & Chamberlain, the school opened in 1878. The original tower was demolished in 1976 over safety grounds. It was rebuilt in 1997 as part of the development to fit it out for the Ikon Gallery which opened here in 1998.

The following view was taken in May 2009 on my then mobile phone camera.

dndimg alt="IKON Gallery" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IKON Gallery (May 2009).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Also May 2009 on my then mobile phone camera.

dndimg alt="IKON Gallery" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IKON Gallery (May 2009) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This was a view from June 2009. By then I had my first bridge camera.

dndimg alt="IKON Gallery" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IKON Gallery (June 2009) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Outside of the IKON Gallery in July 2015 was this The Big Hoot owl called Midnight Moths by the artist: Alyn Smith, it was sponsored by: Harrow Green.

dndimg alt="IKON owl" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IKON Gallery Big Hoot Midnight Moths (July 2015).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

In July 2017 outside the IKON Gallery in Oozells Square was this The Big Sleuth bear called The Ink Detective by the artist Mr A Singh and sponsored by Deloitte. The other bear was at the far end of the square (see further down this post for that).

dndimg alt="IKON bear" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IKON Gallery Big Sleuth Ink Detective (July 2017).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Six Brindleyplace

This building opened in the year 2000. 6 Brindleyplace has 92,000 square feet  of office space. There are several restaurants facing Oozells Square. 

Seen in November 2017 was Cielo Italian. This is from the road between Six and Seven Brindleyplace leading from Central Square.

dndimg alt="Six Brindleyplace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Six Bplace Oozells Square (Nov 2017) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This view of Cielo Italian from Oozells Square, November 2017.

dndimg alt="Six Brindleyplace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Six Bplace Oozells Square (Nov 2017) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Christmas tree in Oozells Square, the view towards 6 Brindleyplace and Cielo Italian during December 2018. You can see 2 Brindleyplace and the IKON Gallery from here.

dndimg alt="Six Brindleyplace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Six Bplace Oozells Square (Dec 2018).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Now onto March 2019 and cherry blossom season on the trees in Oozells Square, as this man sets up a shot on his camera. 6 Brindleyplace seen to the left.

dndimg alt="Six Brindleyplace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Six Bplace Oozells Square (March 2019) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Another cherry blossom shot of 6 Brindleyplace on the same day as above (March 2019). You can see 8 Brindleyplace to the left, and 7 Brindleyplace is in the corner.

dndimg alt="Six Brindleyplace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Six Bplace Oozells Square (March 2019) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Barry Flanagan sitting hare sculpture seen facing Cielo Italian at 6 Brindleyplace during September 2019. (see another photo further down in the 9 Brindleyplace section). There was an exhibition at the time in the IKON Gallery (which I checked out a week later at the beginning of October 2019).

dndimg alt="Barry Flanagan" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Barry Flanagan bronze sculpture IKON Gallery Oozells Square (2) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

In November 2019 for this view of a new restaurant at 6 Brindleyplace called Siamaiz Thai Restaurant

dndimg alt="Six Brindleyplace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Six Bplace Oozells Square (Nov 2019).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Seven Brindleyplace

This office development is between 8 and 6 Brindleyplace. I have never got a direct photo of 7 Brindleyplace from Oozells Square before, so these views below will have to illustrate what it looks like. It was built from 2002 and construction took two years. It has over 85,000 square feet of office space.

In November 2014, there was a mobile crane near 8 Brindleyplace. You can see Cielo Italian from here.

dndimg alt="Seven Brindleyplace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Seven Bplace Oozells Square (Nov 2014).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

A crop of a cherry blossom tree shot from March 2019, you can see 7 Brindleyplace is to the right of 8 Brindleyplace and to the left of 6 Brindleyplace. Just in the corner.

dndimg alt="Seven Brindleyplace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Seven Bplace Oozells Square (March 2019).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Eight Brindleyplace

Built in the year 2000, the building provides over 92,000 square feet of office space.

In May 2009, 8 Brindleyplace was occupied by RBS.

dndimg alt="Eight Brindleyplace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Oozells Square Bplace (May 2009) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Mobile crane in front of 8 Brindleyplace during November 2014. 9 Brindleyplace to the left, and you can see the stone sculptures in the square.

dndimg alt="Eight Brindleyplace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Eight Bplace Oozells Square (Nov 2014).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Seen not too far from the outside of 8 Brindleyplace in Oozells Square back in July 2017, was this The Big Sleuth bear called Enlightenment. The artist was Valerie Osment, and the sponsor was Dudley Zoological Gardens

dndimg alt="The Big Sleuth" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Big Sleuth 8 Bplace Oozells Square (July 2017).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Another mobile crane, early March 2020 (several weeks before lockdown). Was again cherry blossom on the trees in Oozells Square. You can just about see 7 Brindleyplace to the right in the corner (left of 6 Brindleyplace).

dndimg alt="Eight Brindleyplace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Eight Bplace Oozells Square (March 2020).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Nine Brindleyplace

Built in 1999, between Oozells Street and Cumberland Street (the other side faces Broad Street), 9 Brindleyplace has 26,800 square feet of restaurant space, and 43,000 square feet of office space. Number Nine the Gallery was established by Lee Benson in this building back in 1999. Part of the building became the Oozells Building in 2018.

In January 2018 I saw this sign on 9 Brindleyplace ...

OOh ... something's changing OOZELLS BUILDING

dndimg alt="Nine Brindleyplace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Oozells Building Nine Bplace (Jan 2018).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

By October 2018, the works to turn this side of 9 Brindleyplace into the Oozells Building appeared to be complete.

dndimg alt="Nine Brindleyplace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Oozells Building Nine Bplace (Oct 2018).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

By December 2018, there was a Christmas tree outside of the Oozells Building, and the Amazon Treasure Truck was in town again.

dndimg alt="Nine Brindleyplace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Oozells Building Nine Bplace (Dec 2018).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

In February 2019, I had this view of the Oozells Building at 9 Brindleyplace from down the side of Cielo Italian at 6 Brindleyplace.

dndimg alt="Nine Brindleyplace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Oozells Building Nine Bplace (Feb 2019).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

In March 2019, it was blossom season again in Oozells Square. Cielo Italian at 6 Brindeyplace to the left, while Piccolino is at 9 Brindleyplace to the right.

dndimg alt="Nine Brindleyplace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Oozells Building Nine Bplace (March 2019).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Facing Piccolino at 9 Brindleyplace back in September 2019, was this Barry Flanagan hare sculpture, it was there for a few months before it was removed. See my post at the time here Barry Flanagan bronze sculptures at the IKON Gallery.

dndimg alt="Barry Flanagan" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Barry Flanagan bronze sculpture IKON Gallery Oozells Square (1) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Christmas tree towards 9 Brindleyplace during December 2019, while it was raining. Jurys Inn and Popworld behind ot the left on Broad Street.

dndimg alt="Nine Brindleyplace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Xmas decorations Oozells Square (Dec 2019) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Paul de Monchaux Stone sculptures

The stone sculptures goes from the Cumberland Street end to the Oozells Street end of Oozells Square. Included here is sculpted stone seats and a pagoda designed by Paul de Monchaux. There is a small canal of water that you can cross over.

This view towards the IKON Gallery in May 2009.

dndimg alt="Stone sculpture" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Oozells Square Bplace (May 2009) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This was a June 2009 view of the stone sculpture in Oozells Square, again an IKON Gallery view.

dndimg alt="Oozells Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Oozells Square Bplace (June 2009) stone.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Christmas decorations in December 2019 on the stone sculptures. This was from the IKON Gallery end toward 8 Brindleyplace and it was a bit wet. Fairy lights from one end to the other.

dndimg alt="Stone sculpture" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Xmas decorations Oozells Square (Dec 2019) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

From this end you can see the main stone sculpture, looking a bit wet, towards the IKON Gallery. Piccolino restaurant at 9 Brindleyplace to the right.

dndimg alt="Stone sculpture" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Xmas decorations Oozells Square (Dec 2019) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

There has been the odd event here in the past such as 4 Squares Weekender, but will leave those to another Oozells Square post in the future.

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown. Now at over 1,120 followers. Thank you.

Birmingham We Are People with Passion award winner 2020