The world of architecture has paid tribute to John Madin – the man behind Birmingham’s Central Library and many more buildings in the city.

Mr Madin, whose ‘Brutalist’ buildings across the city split opinion for decades, died aged 87 in a Southampton hospital on Sunday.

His death comes as work takes place on the city’s new Library of Birmingham – which will mean the end of Mr Madin’s Central Library in Chamberlain Square – but his legacy lives on elsewhere in the region, as he masterminded Edgbaston’s Calthorpe Estate commercial area and the early designs for Dawley New Town, which later became Telford.

Prominent architects from the region said Mr Madin’s legacy will be felt in Birmingham for decades, describing him as the most influential architect of the post-war period in the city.

Glenn Howells, of Birmingham-based Glenn Howells Architects, said Mr Madin was to be admired as much for his output as his architectural prowess.

He said: “He was probably the most important mid-20th century architect that the city had in that he brought international examples and experience to bear in the city.

"He is probably best known for the major buildings he left behind, but some of the most interesting work he did was in residential development, like the Calthorpe Estate buildings.

“He was quite prolific. His output was huge over many decades.”

Mr Madin’s designs became a contentious issue for many and the Central Library seemed to be loved and loathed in equal measures.

Other notable buildings he designed include the former Post & Mail building, in Colmore Circus, and BBC Pebble Mill, in Edgbaston.

Both buildings were demolished in the last decade.

Matthew Dobson, regional director of RIBA West Midlands, said: “The work of John Madin and his associates had a profound influence on re-shaping Birmingham in the post war period.

“John’s vision of a modern city is expressed through the striking legacy of buildings, ideas and concepts that resonate with us today. They are the measure of a truly remarkable, skilful and visionary man.”

Bob Ghosh of Birmingham-based K4 Architects said without Mr Madin’s legacy many of the good things in modern Birmingham would not have happened.

He said: “Madin was a serious architect, who understood form, space and material, unlike many of his contemporaries.

“Due to the pace of change in our city, many of Madin’s buildings have now disappeared.

“Some should have been retained, most notably the Post & Mail building and plaza, which had more than a subtle reference to Mies van der Rohe.

“Had he ultimately realised the ambition of building the inverted ziggurat form of the Birmingham Central Library in shimmering white stone, then perhaps it would have been listed, rather than being condemned as another example of concrete brutalism.”

Speaking to the Architect’s Journal, Mr Ghosh added: “The more I see of Mecanoo’s new replacement Library of Birmingham, with its highly stylised form and its frivolous envelope, I can’t help questioning whether we’re doing the right thing.

“Nevertheless, we did need a new library for the 21st century and Argent and Glenn Howells will replace Madin’s building with something of extraordinary quality and address the dysfunctional spaces around it.”

?MOREJohn Madin obituary by Alan Clawley