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You are in: South Yorkshire > Places > Places features > Sheffield's Architecture, old and new

Sheffield's Architecture, old and new

The City of Sheffield has witnessed many decades of varying architecture. We take a look at Sheffield's best and worst buildings - and ask the locals what they think...

Buildings in Sheffield city centre

Buildings in Sheffield city centre

:: October 2008

In leading British cities it's become apparent that we are living and working amongst a combination of out-dated and futuristic buildings which contrast in different ways with each other.

So we thought we'd ask the public in Sheffield what they thought about the city's buildings.

Until the early 21st century, Britain's key cities have been filled with dark, gloomy and out of date buildings.

Sheffield Town Hall and Embrace nightclub

Town Hall and Embrace nightclub

Along with the commuters and everyday city life this can have a depressing and simply boring effect. In turn, those visiting or working can be left with an unenthusiastic and bitter impression of our cities.

In the revolution of modern everyday appliances (computers, mobile phones, mp3 devices...) shouldn't buildings fit in and complete our futuristic package? Should we be living and working in buildings that resemble huge iPod's or scaled-up desktop computers - our workplaces and homes fitting our up to date lifestyles?

Old and new architecture in Sheffield

Old and new architecture in Sheffield

On the other hand listed and conserved buildings will always provide our cities with a rich historical, cultural and architectural background and identity which will attract tourism and those interested in that line of knowledge. They present a contrast between new, old and the present day.

Some have said that Britain had missed the "architectural gravy train" and had been left to cough on Europe's dust of innovations in modern day city buildings, because of our past failure to notice the revolution of futuristic design in architecture.听听听听

But in recent years in South Yorkshire, it's appeared that Sheffield is becoming accustomed to the spark of ingenious landmark buildings and getting used to the frequent changes in the city's buildings.

Car park

Car park

Amazingly and funnily enough it is Sheffield's new and abstract car parks which seem to be at the height of the city's urbanely excellent revitalisation plans.

Although these creations aren't exactly used in the most exciting fashions (parking your car), they are outstanding amongst their neighbouring office buildings.听

'Cheesegrater' building in Sheffield

'Cheesegrater' building in Sheffield

In 2008 Sheffield witnessed the building of two new futuristic car parks; an imposing brown illuminated "piano keyboard" near The Moor and another one huge one - the silver, spiky "cheesegrater" (or "sugar cube") at St Paul's Place/Arundel Gate which was sold in 2008 to a private investor for more than 拢21 million. Although proven expensive, it's said to be crucial to Sheffield's acclaimed 拢130 million 'Heart of the City' project. The foot of the building will be a home to a Casino.

The primary users of these car parks will most often be shoppers and those visiting the city centre's attractions - so therefore their excursion is made exciting within the first few minutes of arrival.

As in every city, there's always a difference in opinion between the public. Obviously voices need to be heard about the construction of buildings like the cheesegrater and "the brown one" - and equally about the demolition of others.

Sheffield University's 'Soundhouse' building

Sheffield University's 'Soundhouse' building

We asked shoppers in Sheffield what they thought about the city's new and old buildings. Listen to their varied opinions by clicking on the link below.

We got a mixed response when we asked locals for their most favoured and most disliked buildings and landmarks.

Sheffield Town Hall

Sheffield Town Hall

It would be fair to say that the younger public in general prefer the look of the "cheesegrater" but an older couple described the new creation as "obscene," a "contraption" and "quite horrendous" and were dismayed that so many "old traditional buildings were being pulled down to put cr*p up."

We begin to wonder if any of the old or new buildings have a wide similar reaction amongst the general public. One that did seem to constantly pop up and remain popular was the Town Hall. Built during seven years (1890-1897) it is designed to echo the architecture of the adjacent St Paul's Church of 1720 and is situated on Pinstone St.

Sheffield University Arts Tower

Sheffield University Arts Tower

When asked which buildings sprung to mind as disliked, many thought it was the University's Arts Tower which stood out like a sore thumb. Until the building of the skyscraper at St Paul's Place/Arundel Gate in 2008, the Arts Tower was for many years Sheffield's highest building standing, at 255 ft (32 floors). Famous for its paternoster lift and the fact you can see it from miles around, the building was described as "horrible," a "lost cause," and "a concrete lump in the landscape."

Find out more about the Arts Tower by following the link on the right of the page - and listen to public opinion on which buildings are Sheffield's best and worst by listening to the link below.

More Sheffield photos on the internet

:: The Sheffield Regeneration Gallery website aims to produce a body of work that looks at the history of Sheffield鈥檚 architecture since 1945, collecting as many memories as possible through family photographs of buildings in Sheffield city centre and the stories that people remember about them. More information via the link below (external website).

:: The Facebook group Pictures of Sheffield Old and New was started by Sheffield resident and fan Hedley Bishop. The group has been collecting lots of photos from all around Sheffield - as the name suggests, both old and new! Have a look by clicking on the link below (another external website).

last updated: 17/03/2009 at 09:54
created: 08/10/2008

Have Your Say

Which do you think are the best and worst buildings in South Yorkshire?

The 91热爆 reserves the right to edit comments submitted.

Darren London
Having come from Sheffield bur lived in London a good few years I was pleasantly surprised by the forward thinking of Sheffields developers and architects. For any City to be taken seriously on the national or international stage it has to look forward and this is always reflected and stated in its buildings, demonstrated in History with Cities like Rome, Paris and more recently Berlin (in the past 10/20 years). Whereas it important to preserve the old along with its history to create a pastiche of old sends out the wrong message and Sheffield is not stuck in past. Sheffield wants to be taken seriously on the National and International stage which results in investment and that ultimatly will benefit Sheffielders economically.building forward looking buildings plays an important part in this message sheffield sends.

Shaun - Sheffield
The Cheese Grater looks bad but not as bad as the pinicle next to it or the weird new build at Ladies Bridge. It is a sight for sore eyes, you know where you are, a land mark building, same as the Tinsley Towers were.The Council need to start asking the public more openly and LISTEN TO THEM rather than putting pictures up and saying "This IS what is going up".Nearly as bad as the road planners. Do any of them actually drive?

Eric Winnert
I don't like the Cheesegrater, its scale is wrong and it has dwarfed everything. Before it was clad St Pauls Place looked quite impressive, but now it just looks like a insignificant matchstick. What I find interesting is that before the regeneration the 3 most prominent buildings on the skyline were Hyde Park Flats, The Arts Tower and The Hallamshire Hospital. They are all facets of the Welfare State: housing, health care and education, 3 big status symbols to "What your country is doing for you!" now the biggest building is St Paul's, a big status symbol to Privatisation.....

glenda sharp
I hate the cheesegrater its as bad as the eggbox the old townhall extention

Derrick Robinson
There is an old saying in Sheffield that Sheffield City Council has done more damage to the city than the Luftwaffe. Things don't change. Heart of the City needs a quadruple bypass.

Nick Sheffield
I think possibly the worst building has to be the green and rusty brown one thats down by riverside, what on earth we're they thinking! What amazes me is all the beautiful stone buildings that are derelict like the ones down by the market and another between castle square and the bus station, these should be treasured.

Kasper Schmeady
I think the portaloo is nice

Eleanor Bermingham
I love the Lyceum in Sheffield! It feels really grand and posh when you're near it!

Frank Allan
Come and look at the St John and Mary Magdalene church in Goldthorpe Barnsley.It is Italian in design and a fantastic piece of architecture.It stands out magnificently against the dour terraced housing of this former pit village.

Elizabeth
Sometimes I really think that the architects are out of their minds... I mean why on earth would you build a brown car park? I think it looks hideous in the day but alright at night when you can't see the browness! The Park Square flats also look shocking. But I think the new university buildings look good, and the town hall and buildings on west street.

jan jiles
the new build at ladies bridge is awful, the cladding looks loike someone started to paint it and ran out of paint...yukkkk

Paul Johnson
The worst building must be the new car park on Eyre Street, nicknamed the giant turd it will be an embarsement for years

Chris
I fail to see how the Arts Tower can be described as a 'concrete lump' (that must surely refer to Hallamshire!)The Arts Tower is certainly a striking building and I do not consider it an eyesore at all. Besides, it'll soon be refurbished and will certainly give it a new lease of life.

Dee, Firth Park, Sheffield
I think Eyre Street car park and the Sugar Cube/Cheese Grater buildings are hideous. I love that new one by the River Don that is an unusual shape with the green on it. It looks great I really want to go in it and see what it is like.

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