For City Developments Limited (CDL), a skyscraper should do more than reach for the clouds. It should redefine how we live within them. At 155 metres, The Octagon is Birmingham’s tallest building and the world’s first purely octagonal residential high-rise. This 49-storey landmark proves that bold, complex design isn't just an architectural statement, it redefines the residential experience within and reaffirms a city’s outlook to its future.
The brilliance of the building lies in what it lacks: a back. By abandoning the traditional four-sided core, this unique octagonal geometry gives every home significantly wider panoramic views than conventional apartments. The result is a layout that effortlessly maximises floor space while flooding every room with natural light.
While the silhouette captures the eye, its true work happens at street level. As the cornerstone of the £1.2 billion Paradise redevelopment, The Octagon is a testament of urban surgery, grafting Birmingham’s industrial heritage onto a modern civic heart. By stitching together transport links and commercial hubs, we aren't just transforming the city centre. We are permitting a historic region to outgrow its own past.
Guided by CDL’s ethos of ‘Conserving as We Construct’, we partnered with Howells to ensure the building’s environmental impact is as slim as its profile. Through Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and lean production, we built more while wasting less. From an invisible blue roof for rainwater management to energy-efficient systems, the tower serves the planet as faithfully as it serves its residents.
Geometry usually dictates a choice between a striking exterior and a spacious interior. We chose both. By eschewing the conventions of four walls, CDL didn't just build an eight-sided residential landmark. We built a vantage point which residents can look out from. And a city can look up to.