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Telly Savalas famously uttered “This is my kinda town” in a promotional film about Birmingham. He reportedly never actually visited, but in the opening scenes of this well-loved clip, he talks about the greenery and picturesque suburbs, the wide-ranging infrastructure and connectivity and the incredible arts and music. His assessment was that Birmingham was the nation’s industrial powerhouse. So, what happened in the nearly 50 years since such key urban planning moves appeared so right?

As decision-makers search for a defining brand, writing in Architecture Today, Anna Parker contends that Birmingham’s identity is already evident in its bold architecture, creative energy, and proud local spirit.

Our Director Anna Parker is very humbled to be the runner up for the Jane Jacobs Award 2025, which was won by the very inspiring Jayne Murray for all her important work in Druids Heath.

The Birmingham Jane Jacobs Award celebrates a woman/women who are encouraging fuller public participation and more informed debate in the city about heritage, climate, housing, and public good. It has been set up by the SaveSmallbrook campaign group but is endorsed by a much wider group, including the RIBA West Midlands Birmingham Architectural Association Birmingham City University, Zero Carbon House, Don’t Waste Buildings, Twentieth Century Society, Birmingham Modernistsand Brutiful Birmingham

We are happy to share our founder Anna Parker will be joining the Design:Midlands Review panel.

Design:Midlands is an independent, impartial resource providing design support for local authorities, communities, decision makers, housebuilders, businesses and design professionals.
With belief in the value of good design and creativity because everyone deserves better designed places. More info here.

Link to fill in our survey questionnaire here

We invite you to come and share your ideas for the integration of arts and creative ideas for the Dudley Interchange!

Transport for West Midlands have started to deliver the new Dudley Transport Interchange site - and would like to invite you to be part of the proposed arts strategy for the site, to share ideas on how artworks for the inside and outside spaces can creatively reflect the heart of Dudley!

This project seeks to celebrate the best of Dudley and be a proud representation of its history, culture, and identity. So whether you’re a local artist, designer, or just passionate about your community, we invite you to join us and help shape the vision.

We will be at a vacant unit in Churchill Shopping Centre Thurs 24th 12-2pm, Sat 26th 10am-1pm, Mon 28th April 5-7pm where you’ll have the chance to discuss the plans, ask questions, and give feedback on the current proposal.

Or if you would like to get in touch by email: hello@interventionarchitecture.com

We hope to hear from you soon!

We're really pleased to have been featured in an article for Building Design magazine, written by Joe Holyoak - to read more click here on their titled 'Intervention Architecture turns 10: how the community-focused practice is shaping Birmingham’s future'

"In a city where too many promising initiatives falter for lack of sustained support, Intervention Architecture’s steady rise stands as a quietly remarkable achievement."

Planning consent has been granted to our first building in Birmingham’s 17ha Smithfield development for LendLease and Birmingham City Council. We’ve collaborated with Bell Phillips on the design of the 38,000 sq ft mixed use building which will include 408 build-to-rent homes, a health and wellbeing leisure facility and lots of shops, bars and restaurants.

Working alongside the wider design team and client, we’ve brought a hyper-local focus to the project, this being a development for and in Birmingham, embedding rooftop and communal spaces for residents and delivering high quality homes. Our work has centred within the social value strategy for the site, developing a long term economic and social prosperity strategy, with wider region stakeholders, for which will benefit the wider areas. The project is a great fit for our socially conscious approach to architecture, and the planning consent coincides with us celebrating our 10th anniversary, marking a decade of transformative work in our home city.

Shortlisted for Community Engagement for The Pineapple Awards 2025🍍

Our project with National Trust and Birmingham City Council, with Open Door Community Foundation - Firs and Bromford Pocket Park has been shortlisted for Community Engagement. The project was funded by the UK Government’s shared Prosperity fund. A big thank you to all involved. Over 6 months in code sign and cobuild, out community shaped every part of their pocket park with their voices, ideas and hands (often covered in mud!).

The pineapples are part of the Festival Place award and are the only awards that celebrate the very best in placemaking and place-led initiatives.

Thanks to everyone involved with the project and congratulations to the shortlist!

We are pleased to share our Pocket Park project with the community of Firs & Bromford with the National Trust, Open Door, and Birmingham City Council - has been long listed for the RIBAJ MacEwen Award 2025 recognising architecture for the common good. More info here.

Codesigning and Cobuilding this transformed vibrant green space in East Birmingham led by Marina Strotz.

"The MacEwen award entries are proof that architectural projects of any shape or form can bring significant benefits to communities" RIBAJ.

Lendlease has submitted a planning application for a landmark mixed-use building within its exciting regeneration of Birmingham Smithfield. We have been collaborating and designed this plot in partnership with Bell Phillips Architects, for our first Build to Rent scheme.

Subject to approvals, the building will overlook Manor Square and include 408 high-quality build-to-rent homes. It will be the first residential element of the regeneration of Smithfield and is planned to also feature a health and wellbeing-inspired leisure facility; as well as a mix of independent shops, bars and restaurants for the public to enjoy.

Congratulations to the whole project team on reaching this milestone, it has been a privilege to be part of one of the UK's most ambitious regeneration initiatives reshaping 17 hectares in the historic heart of our home city.

We are so happy our Marina Strotz has been selected as a RIBA Rising Star 2024 ! 🌟 More info here.

As associate director in the practice, Marina leads by doing (with hands typically covered in soil), fostering kindness and sustainability, and has helped create our studio culture of equality, a true change maker with plants and technology as her medium.
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Within the practice she has led the design and our physical delivery of several pocket parks working closely with communities and volunteers. Together, delivering meaningful collaboration by making spaces which unite communities and creates a legacy that continues to grow.

Go marina 🥳 , this marks the third member of our practice shortlisted in recent years for this recognition.

Marina’s passion for integrating nature into the built environment led her to pursue a Royal Horticultural Society course at Winterbourne in Birmingham whilst working full time as an Architect. As part of a small collective, she helped design, fundraise for, and build the ‘Wander and Wonder’ garden, which was awarded Gold at BBC Gardener’s World Live 2023. This garden now serves as a therapeutic space at Rookery Gardens, an assisted-living mental health service under the NHS Trust and Birmingham Mind.