Regenerating Sheffield's Park Hill Estate showcases the way existing structures can be persevered and restored to the highest quality
The Park Hill Estate in Sheffield is one of the most famous examples of the UK’s post-war ‘streets in the sky’ housing developments. Despite falling into disarray, it became Grade II* listed in 1998 for its architectural significance, making it Europe’s largest listed building.
Over a decade ago, Urban Splash set about the first phase of redevelopment. This involved stripping the building back to its gridded concrete framework and adding a new façade of simple glazing and brightly coloured panels.
After the success of the first phase, which was nominated for the 2013 RIBA Stirling Prize, the second stage of the regeneration began.
Urban Splash and project architect Mikhail Riches have reconfigured the horseshoe shaped housing block in the centre of the estate. It’s now made up of 195 homes and 2,000m2 of office, retail and café space.
Working to retain as much of the building’s iconic concrete structure as possible, the infill brickwork has been restored and cleaned. The two-storey exterior bands of terracotta, light red and cream that mark the estate’s iconic ‘streets in the sky’ look have been reinvigorated and brought back to life.
The redesign was not without its challenges, as the original flats in the block were cramped and didn’t meet modern space standards. The team therefore removed some of the party walls between flats to open them up and allow more space, with the revised space now comprising 36 unique flat layouts.
On the ground floor, a double-height entrance lobby has been designed by removing the first floor slabs. The original concrete structure has been repaired where needed, with different construction methods used to keep to the building’s original ‘rough and ready’ aesthetic.
Phase two of the regeneration project has received widespread recognition, winning the RIBA Yorkshire Award, RIBA Project Architect Award and RIBA National Award. It was also shortlisted for the prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize.
The extensive restoration of Park Hill is an incredible example of what can be achieved when designers work to preserve and enhance existing structures to a high-quality, instead of simply opting to demolish and start again.
With its new lease of life, Park Hill Estate is once again an icon on Sheffield’s hillside.