I know many of you complain about buildings all being the same these day and not iconic and so on, so what do you all think to this building which will go to the left of the station square.

http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/Shaping-the-future.3687478.jp

It's designed by MAKE architects (who did 'the Gherkin' in London), and there's no denying that it's completely original, and I think would definitely become iconic for Sheffield.

It's gonna contain 200,000 sqft of office space (as part of the Digital Campus (http://www.sheffielddigitalcampus.com/) for small and medium 'Creative' businesses. It'll also have retail/cafe space on the ground floors so should really help to bring life into the station areas. Finally, there will be high quality serviced apartments.

Obviously not everyone will like it (IMO architecture that divides opinion is good), but it's such a different design it will easily become a landmark for people both from and outside of the city.

Personally I love the shape of it (especially the ground levels), but i'm unsure on the colour/cladding. These are reasonably early designs, so I reckon we might see some changes to it yet (I just hope they don't water down the original idea) and TBH the colour might not even be representative of what we get.

And please, think before you post. :)

And a night-time image: http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/7809/shapext7.jpg

I think its really good.
has it got the go ahead yet?

im sure they'll be loads of big building haters on here that will disagree with me tho :(

No, they've not put an application in yet, but they've had talks with the council and has been very well received.

The station square is becoming (very slowly) a very nice place to visit. I spend (what seems) half my life on trains, and i notiuced that the area out side the train station is a great location on chill out/people watch in the summer.

With the addition of this building, and by the looks of things cafe etc undenieth it, i hope it does get the go ahead. I thing the colours will be tomed down alittle. But in terms of shape, its great!

Can we have a poll option for "that looks interesting"?

It looks distinctive so I give it the thumbs up :thumbsup:

I can't say I love it or hate it, but it's a vast improvement over a lot of recent Sheffield erections which appear to be done on the cheap and out of an identikit book of architecture.

Sorry, I can't edit the poll now. Dunno if maybe a mod could do it?

A great advance on the Lego boxes the planners see as iconic all over the city centre. A pity it will be tucked away down by the station.

I like it very much but, like you Paulmat, I'm not so struck on the colouring shown in the artists impression.

Any bets that Rugs hates it and thinks its tatt? :roll:

A great advance on the Lego boxes the planners see as iconic all over the city centre. A pity it will be tucked away down by the station.Hardly tucked away right next to the station, the bus intrerchange and sat on the southern part of the ring road.

Any bets that Rugs hates it and thinks its tatt? :roll:

I don't know, I think rugs might like this one. :nod: Who knows, we'll have to wait and see ;)

And yeah, it's not really tucked away, it's slap bang right next to where millions of people a year pass through.

Any bets that Rugs hates it and thinks its tatt? :roll:

I feel another argument comming on with rugs.

He's probaly still asleep in his mud hut! :)

I feel another argument comming on with rugs. I prefer to call it debate :D

Sorry, I can't edit the poll now. Dunno if maybe a mod could do it?

Poll edited. For future reference please report your post and ask the moderating team to amend it for you as we can't read every thread so may miss a request in the thread.

BTW, whoever is betting that there will be an argument with rugs, I'm betting otherwise ;)

Cheers medusa. :)

I really like it. It will fit in too with the old NCPM drums. Makes a change from the usual boring square blocks!

But does it remind anyone else a bit of Moorfoot? That same kind of mad cascading effect? And they're going to knock that down! What a shame :(

Poll edited. For future reference please report your post and ask the moderating team to amend it for you as we can't read every thread so may miss a request in the thread.

BTW, whoever is betting that there will be an argument with rugs, I'm betting otherwise ;)

Haha, because he's banned.

I checked using the PM method.

"rugs has chosen not to receive private messages or may not be allowed to receive private messages. Therefore you may not send your message to him/her."

I really like it. It will fit in too with the old NCPM drums. Makes a change from the usual boring square blocks!

But does it remind anyone else a bit of Moorfoot? That same kind of mad cascading effect? And they're going to knock that down! What a shame :(

I was thinking exactly the same.
It looks like what the Manpower services building might have been like if it was designed by Gaudi.
Love the building, hate the location! (That doesn't mean I hate Sheaf Square but I think the building in this location is out of proportion and would totally dominate the site to the detriment of the square and station).
I'd much rather see it replace the Grosvenor House hotel.

I'd much rather see it replace the Grosvenor House hotel.

Too late, their's a 'scraper going there (probably 80m+)

;)

Weird colour scheme...and it needs 'hanging gardens' :)

It looks like what the Manpower services building might have been like if it was designed by Gaudi.


Spot on!
The night shot looks like the Moorfoot building in a sci-fi movie.

Hardly tucked away right next to the station, the bus intrerchange and sat on the southern part of the ring road.

But not in the city centre like the Lego tower on Arundel gate, or the 'Sevenstone' retail quarter. Believe it or not there are a lot of people who go to the city centre regularly who never go near the railway station, or the soon no-longer-to-be bur interchange, or the ring road. So for many people, it will be tucked away, and I think it deserves a more prominent position.

Weird colour scheme...and it needs 'hanging gardens' :)

:hihi: Definitely.

I agree, it's a shame the Moorfoot building is to be demolished. But I hear its just completely non-functional.

But not in the city centre like the Lego tower on Arundel gate, or the 'Sevenstone' retail quarter. Believe it or not there are a lot of people who go to the city centre regularly who never go near the railway station, or the soon no-longer-to-be bur interchange, or the ring road. So for many people, it will be tucked away, and I think it deserves a more prominent position.Unfortunately not everything can be in the heart of the city centre. I still stand by what I said.....hardly tucked away.

I only caught a quick glimpse on the front of the Telegraph yesterday and immediately loved it. I love the Gherkin too so it's great that we could have our own version of the theme. My very first impression of Sheffield 20 years ago, as with so many countless others, was coming out of the station, so every new development of that view has pretty much made my heart sing, from the Showroom to the NCPM drums to the new Square and now this. Wonderful. :)

Weird colour scheme...and it needs 'hanging gardens' :)

In the immortal words, "what a carbuncle", yeah somthin' needs hanging, or should I say someone.

I agree rudeboy. It's in a place that, whilst many Sheffielders wont see it, millions who go through the station every year will see it.

To be honest, I think it looks more like Grosvenor than MSC - a tower on a lower-rise slab. Can we move the Casbah under here ;)

I like it, it's different.

I was thinking exactly the same.
It looks like what the Manpower services building might have been like if it was designed by Gaudi.
Love the building, hate the location! (That doesn't mean I hate Sheaf Square but I think the building in this location is out of proportion and would totally dominate the site to the detriment of the square and station).
I'd much rather see it replace the Grosvenor House hotel.

I disagree on This. Don't forget that phase 1 of the Digital Campus right right over the road, the hotel at the NMB is being built and the Showroom is having a 6-storey extension. The whole area will look quite dense, and I don't think a 70-80m tower would look odd on this site.

Also, should create a nice frame when looking at the Cholera Monument when walking down Howard Street :D

Well a building like that would certainly be an improvement on the insipid boxes which currently make up New Sheffield. The question is whether it will ever end up looking like the picture on the front of the Telegraph. Its easy for an architect to produce a grand drawing to impress the descision makers. All too often the final result bears little resemblance to the original offering.

Well a building like that would certainly be an improvement on the insipid boxes which currently make up New Sheffield. The question is whether it will ever end up looking like the picture on the front of the Telegraph. Its easy for an architect to produce a grand drawing to impress the descision makers. All too often the final result bears little resemblance to the original offering.

I think they have quite a big budget to play with on this one, so it should be top notch build quality.

I like it, but as a few other posters on here, I'm not entirely sure re the colour scheme..

hope it hids park hill

Well, Park Hill should be a pretty desireably place to live by the time this has been built. :nod:

My only critisism would be that I don't think every new building in Sheffield has to have apartments in it, it should be all office space.

What I find interesting is the fact that there is little or no background to any of the artist's impressions (bar a little bit of the station wall thing). Tends to indicate to me an off-the-shelf project that prospective councils bid for and then plonk wherever they feel most appropriate, rather than something designed to suit its environment.

I could be wrong though, but I'd like to see some other angles.

The colour's fine by me but why do they always stick tables and chairs in the tunnels underneath? As if anyone's going to want to eat out there - it's going to be dark, dank and windy like every other building of the type.

Also, should create a nice frame when looking at the Cholera Monument when walking down Howard Street :D

Hmmmmm.... a nice frame when looking at the cholera monument.

I don't think this is the purpose of the monument.

Well, Park Hill should be a pretty desireably place to live by the time this has been built. :nod:

Yes, I've see the publicity from Urban Splash who are doing the Park Hill renovation. By the time they have finished Bertie Basset will be seen skipping along the pavements in the sky :hihi:

I finally got round to visiting the Selfridges store in B'ham in December, where I was much impressed by that unusual shaped building.

This one is a similarly intriguing design. Let's go for it!

I'm a wee distrustful of artists impressions easpecially as they've been commissioned to make 'as good an impression' as poss in order to win big contracts and/or sway council planners etc.
I always wonder how these ultra modern buildings will stand up to the ravages of time/pollution/pigeon poo etc.
Remember the old egg box - looked fine when first built but the water staining and grime soon took their toll.
I hope it does look as good as the impression when finished - and the interiors look amazing.

What I find interesting is the fact that there is little or no background to any of the artist's impressions (bar a little bit of the station wall thing). Tends to indicate to me an off-the-shelf project that prospective councils bid for and then plonk wherever they feel most appropriate, rather than something designed to suit its environment.

I could be wrong though, but I'd like to see some other angles.

The colour's fine by me but why do they always stick tables and chairs in the tunnels underneath? As if anyone's going to want to eat out there - it's going to be dark, dank and windy like every other building of the type.

Well spotted. Too many buildings are taken 'off the peg' and have little sympathy or connection to their surroundings and if the original build quality is not good enough then it quickly becomes an eyesore or becomes impractical as the maintenance costs become too high. The egg box and Manpower Services building are just 2 examples.
In fact I think this building might look better as a replacement for the latter.

This design looks very interesting and unlike everything else that seems to being built at the moment in the city, it offers something that is almost refreshing to look at. I feel it would vastly improve that area, bringing in a whole new life to the area.

My only critisism would be that I don't think every new building in Sheffield has to have apartments in it, it should be all office space.

Developers make much more profit on apartments than office space. Especially in something like this where the apartments will generate even more profit because they're serviced, yet the office space probably won't create as much because it's aimed at small businesses - who probably wouldn't be able to afford the highest rents.

I reckon they are using the extra money generated from the apartments to give us such an amazing building.

What I find interesting is the fact that there is little or no background to any of the artist's impressions (bar a little bit of the station wall thing). Tends to indicate to me an off-the-shelf project that prospective councils bid for and then plonk wherever they feel most appropriate, rather than something designed to suit its environment.

I could be wrong though, but I'd like to see some other angles.

The colour's fine by me but why do they always stick tables and chairs in the tunnels underneath? As if anyone's going to want to eat out there - it's going to be dark, dank and windy like every other building of the type.

The image of it across the square is pretty detailed. It shows the scale of the buildings around it, and how it will interact with the square. But yeah, it would be nice to see how it will sit in relation to the station.

I don't think anything like councils bidding for designs happens. For a start it's not a council project, and secondly i've never heard of any such thing happening with other buildings.

I think the ground floor will be excellent actually. It's got glass between the bases on the ground floor, so there won't be any wind or damp, and the ground floor is atleast double height, if not triple, so there should be plenty of light coming in.

I'm a wee distrustful of artists impressions easpecially as they've been commissioned to make 'as good an impression' as poss in order to win big contracts and/or sway council planners etc.
I always wonder how these ultra modern buildings will stand up to the ravages of time/pollution/pigeon poo etc.
Remember the old egg box - looked fine when first built but the water staining and grime soon took their toll.
I hope it does look as good as the impression when finished - and the interiors look amazing.

Yeah you're right, they always put blue skies, lots of sun, and fashionable business types. :hihi: And how it will age is always a worry. However I think if it's built to good quality and the cladding is good it should be pretty timeless. (I always think if ultra-modern buildings go completely over the top with their moderness, and aren't half baked attempts they generally last for years and years).

Yes, I've see the publicity from Urban Splash who are doing the Park Hill renovation. By the time they have finished Bertie Basset will be seen skipping along the pavements in the sky

Lol. Seriously though, I can see Park Hill becoming an excellent place to live. What with the location, size of flats, facilities etc.

Developers make much more profit on apartments than office space. Especially in something like this where the apartments will generate even more profit because they're serviced, yet the office space probably won't create as much because it's aimed at small businesses - who probably wouldn't be able to afford the highest rents.

I reckon they are using the extra money generated from the apartments to give us such an amazing building.

Apartments:confused: I thought this was to be the 3rd phase of the digital campus? I would have thought this wasn't the best location for apartments with the railway on one side and the ring road on the other.

Apartments:confused: I thought this was to be the 3rd phase of the digital campus? I would have thought this wasn't the best location for apartments with the railway on one side and the ring road on the other.

It still is, just that a small proportion of the space in the building will be used for appartments, I think it said the upper levels?

Maybe the companies who use the digital campus may have an option of having the apartments, surely they will be able to make good use of them if they constantly have people coming in for a short time. I can imagine many people would live near the train station if they are workers who commute all the time and have the money to move near such a facility.

I quite like this, i'm sure it will make a great addition to the city. I did at first think, re-designed man-power building when I saw it. Still, nice to see something different.

It still is, just that a small proportion of the space in the building will be used for appartments, I think it said the upper levels?

Maybe the companies who use the digital campus may have an option of having the apartments, surely they will be able to make good use of them if they constantly have people coming in for a short time. I can imagine many people would live near the train station if they are workers who commute all the time and have the money to move near such a facility.

I quite like this, i'm sure it will make a great addition to the city. I did at first think, re-designed man-power building when I saw it. Still, nice to see something different.

Oh.....I see. You mean like this, http://www.theplacehotel.com/ , a managed apartment style hotel aimed at business workers who want a very flexible accommodation option.

OMG, it looks interesting, but the first thing which came to mind was it looks like someone has taken the existing redbrick monstrosity of Moorfoot and carved it into an interesting new shape...

And that shape also suggests a certain item for which Alistair's comment about 'a lot of Sheffield erections' might be unfortunately all too appropriate...

Oh.....I see. You mean like this, http://www.theplacehotel.com/ , a managed apartment style hotel aimed at business workers who want a very flexible accommodation option.

Perhaps, I was really taking a guess at that, but who knows? There will be a hotel going across the road where the NMB once stood, so maybe not and they will just be apartments.

Oh.....I see. You mean like this, http://www.theplacehotel.com/ , a managed apartment style hotel aimed at business workers who want a very flexible accommodation option.

I think he means more that companies in the Digital Campus might buy some of the apartments so they can put up business clients in them.

I'm not sure they would though. Small businesses don't usually have enough money to buy an apartment just for the odd client to stay in.

I think he means more that companies in the Digital Campus might buy some of the apartments so they can put up business clients in them.

I'm not sure they would though. Small businesses don't usually have enough money to buy an apartment just for the odd client to stay in.

Yes, that's what I thought at first, but as you point out, the businesses in there will be small and may not think it viable to purchase one.

Perhaps, I was really taking a guess at that, but who knows? There will be a hotel going across the road where the NMB once stood, so maybe not and they will just be apartments.

Thinking about that, does anybody know why they aren't building the hotel next to the railway station and keeping all three stages of the digital campus together with the 3rd phase obviously going on the NMB site?

Thinking about that, does anybody know why they aren't building the hotel next to the railway station and keeping all three stages of the digital campus together with the 3rd phase obviously going on the NMB site?

Again, just making a guess here. I would have thought it may have something to do with the fact the university own the land where the NMB once stood. I would have thought they will have sold the land to the contractor who had the best bid in for it. The land where the campus is being built is the former bus station and also Dyson/Sheaf house by the station, although were those not also university buildings too? If so then I have no idea.

Again, just making a guess here. I would have thought it may have something to do with the fact the university own the land where the NMB once stood. I would have thought they will have sold the land to the contractor who had the best bid in for it. The land where the campus is being built is the former bus station and also Dyson/Sheaf house by the station, although were those not also university buildings too? If so then I have no idea.

There's going to be a hotel on the NMB site. There's a lot of wheeling and dealing between the council and Hallam (maybe Sheffield University too). "If you let me build this here, we'll sell you that so you can knock it down and replace it with the other." You know how it goes. So I'd guess that the land is now the council's.

The NMB site is now owned by CTP St. James (the developers), who bought it off Hallam. I think the site infront of the bus station has always been council owned hasn't it? I mean both the Bus station, and the Sheaf Baths that were there before were council buildings.

I don't know who owned the Sheaf House and Dyson House site though.

Came across this story in this weeks Building Design..something similar was reported in the telegraph a couple of weeks go.

Am I missing something or does this remind me of the large brick building at St Mary's Gate (Department of Work and Pensions?) which is earmarked for demolition??..come on Sheffield....you can do better than this

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=426&storycode=3104599&c=2&encCode=000000000143b056

i quite like it other day people was moaning of Sheffield not building anything outstanding and was going down the generic rout

A bit late in the day wibbles!:P
The original thread on this building is here.
http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=297796

It is reminiscent of the 'Brick Pyramid'.

Also, it reminds me of a large chair - a throne, almost.

I have to say that I don't think it would be sympathetic to it's proposed location. :)

I really like it too - what an impression it will make for people walking out of the train station.

Instead of boxy generic looking buildings they will see the showroom, curves, metal, water and great lighting. I for one would be suitably impressed!

i quite like it other day people was moaning of Sheffield not building anything outstanding and was going down the generic rout

I don't particularly mind the shape of the building, it's the colours that are hideous.

It's truly weird. I can't really picture it yet. I don't dislike it, just can't imagine it.

Eww it looks like meat & 2 veg! :gag:
I think its horrible - a bizarre cross between old fashioned & futuristic :suspect:

excellent, beauty is in the eye of the wallet holder.

Reminds me of Sidari :cool:

There's already a thread about this building.

Threads merged