Park Hill, Sheffield

Behind colourful tapestry of concrete, brick and glass lies this immaculate two-bedroom townhouse, set on Phase II of Sheffield's iconic and Grade II*-listed Park Hill project. One of only eight on the estate, the home’s iconic interiors marry elements faithful to its brutalist heritage with more contemporary touches, such as aluminium-framed floor-to-ceiling glazing, plywood fittings and engineered oak flooring.

The Estate

Informed by ideas of community, as well as the modernist tenets of materiality, light and space, Park Hill is lauded as a masterpiece of brutalist architecture. Originally built between 1957 and 1961 to a design by Jack Lynn and Ivor Smith under the supervision of J.L. Wormersley, the original design comprised four ranges linked by bridges, arranged at an obtuse angle to optimise the panoramic views across the city and the southern Pennines. Conceived as ‘streets in the sky’, four levels of street decks – wide enough to carry milk floats – sit atop a ‘high street’ of local services on the lower levels.

Working initially with architects Studio Egret West, Hawkins Brown and Grant Associates, the award-winning Urban Splash embarked upon a comprehensive redevelopment of the entire estate in the early 2000s. Phase I was shortlisted for the 2013 RIBA Stirling Prize, and Phase II, the Mikhail Riches scheme, won the AJ Retrofit Award 2023 – ‘Retrofit of the Year’, Housing & Listed Building Over £5M – and was the overall winner of Housing Design Award 2023.

The Tour

Rhodes Mews forms a new proposition for Park Hill, a row of eight two-storey townhouses, neatly tucked beneath the ‘streets’ of apartments rising above. The architects adopted a light-touch approach, focussing on celebrating and restoring the original building. A sustainable approach underlines the build, helping the best parts of this iconic scheme sing.

To the front of the house, hefty corten planters, awash with bushy dogwood planting, mark the boundary between more communal areas and a semi-private access to the house. A short path leads to the entrance – an oversized glass door, adjacent to a glazed screen. This opens to a creatively laid-out set of flowing spaces, full of warmth and welcome. Areas to dine, cook, gather and relax have been carefully delineated care of gentle level changes and exposed structural elements.

There is space to congregate, hang coats and kick off boots by the front door. Alongside is a brilliant spot to dine, often awash with sunlight that filters deep into the plan and makes it a lovely spot to relax over a morning coffee and crossword.

Beyond, at a slightly lower level, the kitchen forms the hub of the home. Engineered oak flooring runs underfoot and stands in contrast against the textured concrete walls, authentic in their imperfections. The kitchen area has a light, fresh feel, with crisp white units, solid ply worktops and a grey-tiled backsplash.

The flexible, light-filled living space overlooks the private rear terrace and commands views over colourful planting and far vistas of shared lawns and broad-leafed trees. Sliding doors offer access to this patio; a perfect outdoor space for relaxing.

The timber staircase ascends to the upper level with two generous double bedrooms, each affording further compelling views, of Park Hill and the urban cityscape beyond. The main bedroom has an enticing balcony - a lovely raised vantage for warm afternoons - as well as open storage, dressing space and an en suite shower room. The other bedroom sits at the front of the house and is also bright and airy, and has a handy recess that the current owners use as a workspace.

A smart family bathroom sits between. The clean architectural lines continue, with minimalist details, crisp white fittings, minty green mosaic tiling and a striking orange rubber floor.

Outdoor Space

The private terrace to the rear of this home affords al fresco living close to (yet a world away from) the bustle of nearby urban life.

Flanked by colourful rendered walls, an appealingly sheltered spot sits alongside the living area. Just beyond, there is space to set out tables and chairs and enjoy indulgent lazy lunches and evening drinks. Adjacent is space to grow and cultivate. Currently strewn with verbena, it overlooks the communal ground, laid to lawn, with an encircling hawthorn hedge.

More generally, in collaboration with HawkinsBrown and Studio Egret West, landscape architects Grant Associates plotted a regenerative masterplan for the external spaces of Park Hill. Creating a setting that combines real purpose with beauty, attractive to people and wildlife and birdlife alike, the result essentially wraps the brutalist backdrop in a park-like blanket. Each space has a clear function and is rich in colour. Small courtyards and gardens populate the upper slopes; middle slopes offer communal gardens for playing and relaxing, while lower down there is an opportunity for larger, more public gatherings. Further amenities include an on-site nursery and café, along with new workspaces for businesses, artists and students, and the provision of secure parking – available for rent for approx. £50/month.

Since the completion of the first phase, a new public park, South Street Open Space, has been created by Sheffield City Council between the nearby railway station and Park Hill.

The Area

Park Hill is around a 10-minute walk from the galleries, theatres and shopping of Sheffield city centre. Sheffield has the highest ratio of trees to people of any city in Europe and is home to two of the UK’s largest universities: Sheffield Hallam University, within 10 minutes’ walk, and Sheffield University, within 25.

The city centre, around a 20-minute walk away, is chock full of bars and eateries. Favourite coffee stops include Tamper and Cloud, while Forge Bakehouse also offers delicious snacks. Bench -‘ bakery by day-wine bar by night – is a neighbourhood shop selling natural wines and a selection of very tempting small plates. The Pearl is another delicious spot for small plates and accompanying cocktails, while Beer of Smod brews adventurous beers.

The Shakespeare and the Two Sheds pubs are terrific spots for a pint and Tenaya wine shop & bar has an interesting range and a focus on female producers and sustainability. Jöro is home to an innovative tasting menu showcasing British ingredients.

Kelham Island, 20 minutes on foot, is full of bars, flea markets, venues and restaurants, including Domo, Roku, Juke & Loe, Alder – and has been called ‘one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the UK’  by Time Out and Sunday Times. South Street Kitchen is a community-focussed and largely plant-based café (and occasional restaurant) specialising in tasty, Middle Eastern-inspired food and great coffee

Nether Edge and Sharrow Vale are about a 35-minute walk and have an amazing collection of independent cafés and restaurants; highlights include Corner Store, Tonco Bakery, Starmore Boss, and Grow Yoga.

Norfolk Park, a few minutes away from Park Hill, is a beautiful and quiet retreat perfect for a morning run nearby. Sheffield Botanical Gardens and the Winter Garden, home to temperate greenhouses, are lovely for weekend strolls. Ponds Forge Leisure Centre, with its Olympic-sized pool, gym and many other sports facilities is a must for sporting enthusiasts.

Park Hill is also perfectly placed to escape to the Peaks. Other nearby attractions include Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Chatsworth House and Salt Mill.

The city’s main train station is a five-minute walk away and runs direct services to London St Pancras International in around two hours, Manchester Piccadilly in under an hour, and Liverpool in approximately an hour and 40 minutes. There is also a tram and bus stop five minutes’ walk away, with services to the university, hospitals, Meadowhall Shopping Centre and Hillsborough.

Tenure: Leasehold
Lease: Approx. 232 years remaining
Service charge: Approx. £2,000 per year
Ground Rent: N/A
Council Tax Band: B