History of Park Hill
Milk trucks along the decks
1950’s Post war Sheffield was a time in which people were adjusting to the aftermath of the destruction caused and the many people left homeless because of it. The Labour Government had to take action in which the public housing scheme became and its mission was to rehouse working class families. The best possible way of doing so, without moving there voters out of the district, was compacting people into high rise building; a form of mass public housing. Not only did Park Hill flourish in numbers by achieving this, but became a political and social statement; changing the meaning of public housing.
In 1953 a new breed of architects were evolving with the belief they could ‘solve society’s problems’ (BBC2,2009), Ivor Smith and Jack Lynn were no different. Straight out of University and under the watchful eye of J Smith Wormsley, their initial scheme in Northfolk was soon abandoned and attentions were focused on a new site that would know be known as Park Hill.
The housing scheme meant 19th century back to back houses known as ‘slums’ were demolished and replaced by these high rise buildings . Park Hill was initially 800 Victorian houses (Cruickshank, D, 1995) but now stands a 13 storey concrete frame snaking through the landscape and the height giving a unique look into the city which was not seen before by the old houses. Completed in 1961, the physical characteristics were inspired by the brutalism style which was in fashion at the time. Ivor and Jack felt the previous demolished community were left upset and wanted to replicate the complicated networks of family and personal relationships that were once present (Cruickshank, D, 1995) Giving the tenant’s the tools, the community would root itself and develop. A prime example of what they used for precedence was Le Corbusier’s Unite d’habitation, described as ‘the perfect healthy society’ (BBC2, 2009). What they believed created this environment were the decks and layouts creating a self-contained, self-sustaining city. These decks or ‘streets’ were used in Park Hill and, 10 foot wide, were given the names of the previous demolished streets (the roots) Recreating a sense of attachment for the new tenant’s, it gave people a place of identity ensuring the continuation of the strong community that once lived on Park Hill. These deck names were also used as postal addresses by the tenants.
Being built on a hill, Smith and Lynn decided against radical transformation, instead embraced the landscape. This was achieved by building the flats on the existing slope, but with a horizontal level roof. This meant that the amount of floors gradually increased from 4 to 13 . Decks encouraged horizontal circulation so there would be less need for lifts and allowed wheel chair accessibility Bridges were also a way of linking people to the city centre and to the adjacent park so therefore were still in touch with the wider society (Architects' journal,1961). . Themes such as these were revolutionary in the way of thinking at this time and are prominent within practice today.
To further the community and differentiate the levels, Ivor and Jack wanted the tenant’s to also feel as if they were part of a smaller community within the site. So every 3 storeys a different colour of flint brick was used. (Architects' journal,1961).
The sheer size of the decks allowed for the social function of the traditional streets in which people could meet, children could play as well as milk trucks were able to make the deliveries. Having wide decks also meant it was possible to design maisonettes with an internal layout avoiding any rooms overlooking the decks, ensuring complete privacy as well as good lighting for living rooms and bedrooms (Architects' journal,1961). Lighting was also maintained well within the flats as the shallow width of the blocks meant the flats had views and light from 2 directions. The idea of recreating density, intensity and intimacy worked as this was an age where people wanted to meet and keep the traditional spirit and this was possibly due to the after effects of the war and a sense of community and nationalism that became of it and within it.
From Jack Lynn’s observations of the old community, he states ‘The form of development had given rise to a strong local community. Housing grouped around courts and streets were leavened by pubs, corner shops and small businesses scattered throughout, each generating its own kind of activity’ (Cruickshank, D, 1995-59)
This therefore meant Park Hill would provide the services needed for families to survive; these included 4 pubs a police station, a kindergarten, shops and Laundromats all under one building (HEALTHCOTE, E., 2012). This gave the working class family sustainable living within their estate, like a microcosm of the larger Sheffield.
In 1953 a new breed of architects were evolving with the belief they could ‘solve society’s problems’ (BBC2,2009), Ivor Smith and Jack Lynn were no different. Straight out of University and under the watchful eye of J Smith Wormsley, their initial scheme in Northfolk was soon abandoned and attentions were focused on a new site that would know be known as Park Hill.
The housing scheme meant 19th century back to back houses known as ‘slums’ were demolished and replaced by these high rise buildings . Park Hill was initially 800 Victorian houses (Cruickshank, D, 1995) but now stands a 13 storey concrete frame snaking through the landscape and the height giving a unique look into the city which was not seen before by the old houses. Completed in 1961, the physical characteristics were inspired by the brutalism style which was in fashion at the time. Ivor and Jack felt the previous demolished community were left upset and wanted to replicate the complicated networks of family and personal relationships that were once present (Cruickshank, D, 1995) Giving the tenant’s the tools, the community would root itself and develop. A prime example of what they used for precedence was Le Corbusier’s Unite d’habitation, described as ‘the perfect healthy society’ (BBC2, 2009). What they believed created this environment were the decks and layouts creating a self-contained, self-sustaining city. These decks or ‘streets’ were used in Park Hill and, 10 foot wide, were given the names of the previous demolished streets (the roots) Recreating a sense of attachment for the new tenant’s, it gave people a place of identity ensuring the continuation of the strong community that once lived on Park Hill. These deck names were also used as postal addresses by the tenants.
Being built on a hill, Smith and Lynn decided against radical transformation, instead embraced the landscape. This was achieved by building the flats on the existing slope, but with a horizontal level roof. This meant that the amount of floors gradually increased from 4 to 13 . Decks encouraged horizontal circulation so there would be less need for lifts and allowed wheel chair accessibility Bridges were also a way of linking people to the city centre and to the adjacent park so therefore were still in touch with the wider society (Architects' journal,1961). . Themes such as these were revolutionary in the way of thinking at this time and are prominent within practice today.
To further the community and differentiate the levels, Ivor and Jack wanted the tenant’s to also feel as if they were part of a smaller community within the site. So every 3 storeys a different colour of flint brick was used. (Architects' journal,1961).
The sheer size of the decks allowed for the social function of the traditional streets in which people could meet, children could play as well as milk trucks were able to make the deliveries. Having wide decks also meant it was possible to design maisonettes with an internal layout avoiding any rooms overlooking the decks, ensuring complete privacy as well as good lighting for living rooms and bedrooms (Architects' journal,1961). Lighting was also maintained well within the flats as the shallow width of the blocks meant the flats had views and light from 2 directions. The idea of recreating density, intensity and intimacy worked as this was an age where people wanted to meet and keep the traditional spirit and this was possibly due to the after effects of the war and a sense of community and nationalism that became of it and within it.
From Jack Lynn’s observations of the old community, he states ‘The form of development had given rise to a strong local community. Housing grouped around courts and streets were leavened by pubs, corner shops and small businesses scattered throughout, each generating its own kind of activity’ (Cruickshank, D, 1995-59)
This therefore meant Park Hill would provide the services needed for families to survive; these included 4 pubs a police station, a kindergarten, shops and Laundromats all under one building (HEALTHCOTE, E., 2012). This gave the working class family sustainable living within their estate, like a microcosm of the larger Sheffield.
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The video 'streets in the sky' gives a good feel on what Sheffield was like at the time and how Park Hill was introduced. |