3.2 Urban Form and City Skyline
Guidance – Architectural Quality
Undercroft car parking severs Connection with the street |
Muti-storey carpark with refurbished, active ground level.
The highly contemporary facade complements its heritage context
in the Cathedral Quarter. |
Adaptive reuse of industrial building for residential at Kelham
Island |
Adaptive reuse of indstrial heritage buildings for residential
and office |
Achieving a high standard of architectural quality must be the
goal in all new development. Consistency in the application of architectural
standards will achieve this aim and assist in creating a coherent
urban form throughout the city centre. However, these guidelines
could be broken if the opportunity to create a landmark building
of international significance arose.
At the same time every quarter or precinct within the city centre
needs to have its own unique identity, expressed in its urban form
and image. This is detailed in the Quarter Specific Guidance of
Part 5. In all new developments (or refurbishment of existing buildings
or historic sites) attention must be given to:
Building form, profile, scale and massing
- These are the larger scale design elements which will define
the appearance of the building from a distance and influence how
it sits within its streetscape context.
- A new development must consider and respond to its context in
this regard, particularly in relation to any heritage sites, or
buildings and spaces of significance.
- Variations to the many standard block like structures of Sheffield
will create greater architectural interest in the city centre.
Creating a connection with the street
- Active ground floor uses will be encouraged to create vibrancy
and life at the ground level and a connection with street activity,
particularly along all major pedestrian routes.
- This will foster a sense of neighbourhood and increase the perception
of safety throughout the city.
- Mixed use development is to be encouraged as it often helps
in bringing activity to the street, such as residential or office
developments which accommodate retail uses at the ground level.
The design of the space around the building
- A building’s curtilage can be productively used to contribute
to pedestrian amenity, draw people into the building, provide
landscaping or create a new pedestrian link, for example.
- This space should not be dominated by unsightly utilities such
as carparking or the storage of rubbish.
Detailing
- Articulation of building facades with projections or recessions
in the elevations, or through the use of fenestration, balconies
etc. will soften larger building forms, break down the appearance
of building mass and provide visual interest.
- Attention must also be paid to detailed design. The incorporation
of art or sculptural elements can create a unique image for the
building or its context.
- The night time appearance of a building must be considered.
Lighting can assist the building to continue its function after
dark (for example, landmark structures or sites which maintain
their visual prominence through lighting) and can be used to create
striking night time compositions.
The use of contemporary styles and materials
- Today’s development is potentially the heritage of the future.
The spirit and design ethos of the time in which a building is
constructed should therefore be embraced as a part of this ongoing
continuum of design evolution.
- Contemporary buildings, where appropriate, can be striking in
their appearance and detail, or suitably elegant and refined.
The approach to the design will depend on the streetscape context
and the function of the building.
- In all instances, architectural fashion and clique is to be
avoided to ensure a timeless and lasting aesthetic.
Contemporary Materials Selection
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