Park Hill Flats
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Redevelopment of a highly visible sloped clearance site to provide accommodation for 3,500 people in interlinked blocks
Built on the site of a 22-acre slum clearance between residential and heavy industry areas in Don Valley, the Park Hill flats, originally called the ‘Kelvin Redevelopment’, is a deck access scheme that was viewed as revolutionary when it was built.
The scheme originally created 948 dwellings ranging from single-person flats to six-person maisonettes, two pubs, six shops and a tenants’ hall. The slope of the site and size of the scheme meant that while maintaining the same level roof line throughout the building's height varies between four and thirteen stories.
The frame and floors are constructed from reinforced concrete with brick infill panels and breeze partitions. Heating and water comes from a central boiler plant. Five groups of lifts, each with two passenger and one goods lift, service the building.
The building was ganted Grade II listing in 1998 making it the largest listed building in Europe.
Data
- Begun: Mar 1957
- Completed: 1961
- Floor area: 94,322m2
- Sectors: Residential, Retail
- Total cost: £2.2M
- Tender date: Sep 1956
- Address: Park Hill Flats, Sheffield, S2 5QB, United Kingdom
Professional Team
- Architect: Sheffield Corporation City Architect’s Department
- Project architect: J. L. Womersley
- Client: Sheffield City Council, Parks and Countryside
- Electrical engineer : W. Allsop
- Quantity surveyor: Cyril Sweett
- Main contractor: Public Works Department, Sheffield City Corporation
- Chief clerk of works: I. A. Maclachlaan
- General manager, public works dept: Henry Smith
- Structural engineer: Arup