Parkhill Reborn
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Parkhill: For a Good few years now Parkhill has been a block of mainly derelict, rundown flats in a once thriving city. This city is Sheffield renowned in modern times for its' bustling and profitable industry. To the many locals Parkhill has for the past two decades, a reputation for Drugs, Crime and is nothing more than a blot on the landscape.
Parkhill has been the cold and hostile welcome any commuter recieves upon entry to Sheffield train station. So You invite your pals/business associates to Sheffield. Some find themselves making excuses for Parkhills very existence. On face value, possibly excusable, we expect a city to be littered with glass, aluminium and overindulgence, after all we live in a society where we all demand the finest money can buy. We do not expect gigantic 1960s tower blocks riddled with crime and drugs do we?
Parkhill by general opinion has been a Titanic blot on the ever progressing Sheffield Skyline, a dull, uninspiring building that represents the social decline witnessed by the population of a city once world renowned for its' industry, during the late 80's/ early 90s. It is only recently that Sheffield seems to have embraced Uber cool, glass and steel high rise modernity. Those ever prominent glass and steel skyscrapers, you only have to think of the shiny Velocity buildings watching over the steel city to know how this city has moved on. All of a sudden Sheffield seems to be at the forefront of modern architecture. The city is evolving, moving rapidly in uncertain times. Sheffield is shifting its vision, forcing the world to acknowledge its boldness, its determination to move on, despite of economic and social change.
Under the careful dedication and consideration of Urban Splash alongside English Heritage, Parkhill is being given a rebirth, a chance to once again watch over the North in all its Brutalist glory
All the above being said, we are fools to think this is the first time that Sheffield has witnessed such a bold and drastic change, the very concept of Parkhill, the very birth of this now controversial building (which as you read this may well have once again become a cause of celebration for Sheffield) was the dawning of a new era, an enthusiastic attempt at building a new society. This was post war Britain, spirits were high. Britain was at the top of its game and the people of this great nation demanded to enjoy the standards of living they deserved and had fought in bloody battle for.Modernism had arrived!.
Parkhill is infact beautiful, maybe you have not realised it yet but her history and the stories she could tell would make for fascinating reading.
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PLEASE CONTACT ME BY EMAIL IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO THE SITE: SAZ@PARKHILLFLATS.CO.UK