Hawkins Brown: housing refurbishment, Sheffield, UK.The question of what to do with Park Hill, Sheffield's notorious monument to the social and architectural ambitions of the 1960s, has taxed the imagination of politicians, planners and architects for some decades now. Looming looming: see mirage. over the city on a windswept wind·swept adj. Exposed to or swept by winds: windswept moors. windswept Adjective 1. outcrop, its Brutalist deck access blocks have a grim Alphaville appeal, but even though such architecture has swung back into fashion, to the point of achieving listing status, the estate suffers the familiar problems of social and physical decline. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The latest attempt to tackle Park Hill has fallen to Hawkins Brown working with landscape architects Grant Associates and uber developers Urban Splash. Together they are currently formulating proposals to regenerate re·gen·er·ate v. re·gen·er·at·ed, re·gen·er·at·ing, re·gen·er·ates v.tr. 1. To reform spiritually or morally. 2. To form, construct, or create anew, especially in an improved state. the estate's 1000 homes and 16 000sqm of commercial and ancillary accommodation. The aim is to achieve a sustainable mix of different sorts of housing, both market and affordable, some of it structured on the apartment-hotel model. Residential uses will be supported by dedicated social facilities such as a nursery school nursery school, educational institution for children from two to four years of age. It is distinguishable from a day nursery in that it serves children of both working and nonworking parents, rarely receives public funds, and has as its primary objective to promote , community hub and health centre, backed up by new local shops, bars and restaurants. The existing swathe swathe 1 tr.v. swathed, swath·ing, swathes 1. To wrap or bind with or as if with bandages. 2. To enfold or constrict. n. A wrapping, binding, or bandage. of parkland will be remodelled as a series of landscaped courts providing spaces for play, recreation and reflection. The playful play·ful adj. 1. Full of fun and high spirits; frolicsome or sportive: a playful kitten. 2. graphics suggest an Archigram-style technicolour future, but being Park Hill, one suspects the reality may be more prosaic. C. S. |
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