Sheffield Park Hill Redevelopment

When I first went to Sheffield in September 2012, I was led out of the back of the Railway Station and confronted by this very run down estate, otherwise known as the Park Hill Estate. Small areas of redevelopment work had already begun, however in my opinion it didn't think that this estate had any sense of life left within. Nevertheless, nearly 18 months has passed and I couldn't disagree more with my first impression.

Built in the late 50’s and opening its doors in 1961, concrete flat like this where very popular in the mid 50’s and this estate was no exception. 13 storeys tall, this brutalist-styled monolith designed by Jack Lynn and Ivor Smith sat on one of the seven hills of Sheffield, which at the time when it was seen as popular was given the name of ‘Streets in the Sky’ (UrbanSplash, 2014). The estate itself consisted over nearly 1000’s homes and shops which combined to establish a community within. Built on one of the largest hills in Sheffield, the architects tried to keep the roof heights low so the estate didn’t stick out of the hills outline, however the estate still dominates the hill and overlooks the city below (BBC, 2009).

Park Hill Estate Facades (Bagnall, 2014)

Like most brutalist flats and estates built across the country in the 50’s, the 80’s brought about a new view on these once loved structures. The accommodation aspect seemed poor to the newer properties available, and with estates and flats seeing vast increases in crime within the community people left, one by one, until no one wanted to live in them. By the early 90’s, Park Hill had become a rundown estate which the majority wanted to knock down. However since then the estate has seen it become Grade II listed (1998) and now the redevelopment to create it into a modern, and again loved accommodation. The new refurbishment included providing more spacious and modern accommodation (which was achieved by stripping the building down to its bones and rebuilding) and the use of coloured polycarbonate sheets on the facades to provide dynamic colour and attraction against the flat concrete (Townsend, 2013).

Interior of New Accommodation (Bennett, 2013)

With seeing how the redevelopment of this project has brought back new life into this one named ‘Old Lady’, it shows how even the most run down building can be brought new life and provide for the newer and ever growing generation. Even though in previous blogs I have said how pleased I am to see the Lenton Tower Blocks being knocked down, the question can now be asked of whether a smart mind could have transformed them into the modern/futuristic housing that everybody wants in the present day. 

Bibliography 

BBC News, (2014). Stirling Prize: Park Hill Phase 1. [online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24054185 [Accessed 10 Feb. 2014].

BBC, (2014). BBC - Community living: Park Hill's history. [online] Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/sheffield/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8207000/8207206.stm [Accessed 10 Feb. 2014].

Peter Bennett, (2014). Interior Of New Accommadation. [image] Available at: http://ribastirlingprize.architecture.com/riba-stirling-shortlist-2013-park-hill-sheffield/ [Accessed 10 Feb. 2014].

Splash, U. (2014). Park Hill, Sheffield - project information | Urban Splash. [online] Urbansplash.co.uk. Available at: http://www.urbansplash.co.uk/residential/park-hill [Accessed 10 Feb. 2014].

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Living In The Lace Market

As mentioned previously, this is my second year in the City of Nottingham, and whereas last year I was living out of town in Lenton, this year I am currently living with friends in the heart of the Lace Market.

In my opinion, there is a substantial difference between living within the Lace Market, compared to living in Lenton. First of all in terms of location; for a Nottingham Trent student the Lace Market is a based in the heart of the city, with the university and shops within an easy walking distance.  Relate this to Lenton, situated just outside the city it is ideal for people with cars, however I rely more on me feet. Because of this, the walk to university armed with equipment and drawings board each morning up the mountain-like hill used to be a killer; this was also the same each time you just wanted to go into town!

Fig 1. Lenton Tower Block (During Demolition)
(Thorne, 2013)

However the problem of transport is not my only nor my main reason between my love for the Lace Market. The overall love for the Lace Market over Lenton comes from its setting and context within the areas. Last year, I lived in the shadow of the famous Lenton Tower blocks. The Lenton tower blocks where built in the 1960’s due to the ever-growing population of England, however in the late 20^th – early 21^st century the tower blocks have become an unwelcoming site and are currently being demolished (Howard, 2014). When living in Lenton, I would look through the window or walk out the door to be embraced with these truly saddening and aging structures.  In all truth they were painful to look at.

The Lace Market is home to vast range of historical landmarks and architectural styles from the Gothic-styled St. Marys Cathedral to the modern expressionism-style of the Nottingham Contemporary Building.  I would have to say my favourite building within the Lace Market at the present time (I say this as I feel I haven’t explored the Lace Market completely) is the current NCN building on Stoney Street. This building, which is known as the Adams Building, is a Grade II listed Victorian building built by Thomas Hine. The Adams Building was original one of the largest factories in the Lace Market; it was acquired by the Lace Market Heritage Trust and converted into the New College Nottingham (NCN) (NCN, 2014).  

Fig 3. Side Facade of Adams Building (Bagnall, 2014) 

Fig 2. Date Stone (On Plaque) (Bagnall, 2014)

The reason that the Adams Building is my favourite building is because it is so unlike the rest of the building within the Lace Market. Every morning I walk down Stoney Street from Malin Hill to Hockley, and the buildings either side are quite flat, acting like a stone wall. However once you reach the Adams building, I feel that the space seems to opens up due to its double curved shape of the front facade (Fig 3). The building itself is a very powerful yet elegant figure in the Lace Market and I would argue that the building itself is the finest landmark in the Lace Market. 

Fig 4. Front Facade of Adams Building (Bagnall, 2014)

Bibliography 

Fig 1. Alex Thorne. Lenton Tower Block (During Demolition) Photograph taken 8th October 2013

Fig 2. Shaun Bagnall, 2013. Date stone (on plaque). Photograph taken 7th February 2014

Fig 3. Side Facade of Adams Building. Photograph taken 7th February 2014

Fig 4. Shaun Bagnall, 2013. Front Facade of Adams Building. Photograph taken 7th February 2014

Howard, R. (2014). BBC - Nottingham - Places - Lenton with Robert Howard. [online] Bbc.co.uk. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/content/image_galleries/lenton_walk_gallery.shtml?21 [Accessed 8 Feb. 2014].

NCN, (2014). Nottingham English School - The Adams Building - NCN. [online] Available at: http://www.nottinghamenglishschool.com/the-adams-building.aspx [Accessed 8 Feb. 2014].

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