Robinson in Ruins (2010) at the Showroom
Come and see Robinson in Ruins (2010), the next in Sheffield Civic Trust’s Building Visions film series, which will be shown at the Showroom at 6pm tonight (Thursday 21 July 2011).
Patrick Keiller‘s follow-up to London and Robinson in Space, has his voyeur Robinson released from prison and journeying across the countryside in the South of England. Through Vanessa Redgrave‘s narration, Robinson comments on events that have taken place in that context before speculating on our collective future.
Click here to buy your tickets.
A Celebration of Sheffield’s Brutalist Legacy
‘Brutalist Speculations and Flights of Fancy’ on Friday 9 September (11am – 7.30pm) is an exploration of Sheffield’s six best Brutalist buildings (Park Hill, Castle Markets, the Electricity Substation on Moore Street, The Holy Cross Church on Spotswood Mount, Norton Water Tower and Psalter Lane Art School.
The event at the Site Gallery will open with guided walks to some of the buildings, followed by a series of presentations, a book launch and reception that will explore proposals and enquiries, speculations, and flights of fancy based around the position that these Brutalist buildings hold in Sheffield today.
Norton Water Tower
In his book ‘A Guide to The New Ruins of Modernism’ architectural commentator and Guardian journalist, Owen Hatherley, says that Sheffield ‘just doesn’t seem to know how good it is’ and that its modernist architectural heritage is ‘what makes Sheffield different from Leeds, or Manchester, or Birmingham’.
Twenty artists and writers from Sheffield and Berlin have been invited to contribute, to consider the position that these buildings hold now and to speculate on their possible futures. These extraordinary buildings are sometimes forgotten, often reviled, loved, misunderstood, and contested, but form a vital part of Sheffield’s architectural heritage.
Speakers include:
Owen Hatherley (Guardian journalist, Author of ‘A Guide to the New Ruins of Great Britain’ & ‘ Uncommon” a book on Pulp)
Steve Pile (Professor of Human Geography, the Open University and author of ‘Real Cities: modernity, space and the phantasmagorias of city life’)
Professor Jane Rendell (Director of Architectural Research at the Bartlett, UCL, architectural designer and historian, art critic and writer)
Tickets for the event are £20 or £10 for concessions.
Sheffield Tap – best conversion to pub award winner!
The Sheffield Tap has been awarded the “Best Conversion to Pub” award by CAMRA and English Heritage.
This prestigous award follows hot on the heels of last years National Railway Heritage Award, which was presented by Pete Waterman OBE at London’s Guild Hall. A plaque now adorns the entrance to mark this well deserved award.
Why not call in next time your down at the station to sample the delights on offer and fully appreciate this wonderful restoration project.
Sheffield Tap wins best conversion to pub!
Civic Day Guided Walk: Peace Gardens to Park Hill (via South Street Park / Arboretum)
Thanks to everyone who participated in our guided walk to celebrate the first National Civic Day in Sheffield yesterday.
At 11am on Saturday 25 June we met in the Peace Gardens and journeyed to Park Hill via the fabulous new public space across the railway at South Street Park/Arboretum. The walk also took in St Paul’s Square, the Winter Gardens, Tudor Square, Howard Street and Sheaf Square.
Richard Watts, Sheffield City Council’s Projects Design Team Manager, kindly agreed to join us and provided helpful insights along the walk.
It was great to catch up with old friends and make new ones.
We have much to be proud about in Sheffield. Sheffield Civic Trust will continue to work with partners, engage in new initiatives and celebrate these wonderful assets.
Tour of Urban Splash’s Park Hill Scheme – Fully Booked!
Friday 24 June 1pm – meet at the South Street Entrance to the development on South Street, Park Hill.
Confirmed attendees need to sign in with site security on entry to the site (the cabin is under the ‘I Love You Will U Marry Me’ bridge).
As Park Hill celebrates its 50th Birthday, we are delighted to confirm a free illustrated talk and tour of this iconic building with Mark Latham of Urban Splash.
Due to a fabulous response and interest in Park Hill this event was fully booked. If you missed out don’t worry we are likely to arrange another tour with Urban Splash next month and we will confirm arrangements in due course.
How much does your building weigh, Mr Foster?
Thursday 23 June 8.30pm at the Showroom, we continue our ‘Building Visions’ film programme with this screening of ‘How much does your building weigh, Mr Foster?’
Directed by Norberto Lopez Amado and Carlos Carcas, the film features the life and work of Sir Norman Foster (Baron Foster of Thames Bank).
The film provides stunning illustration of many of Foster’s innovative projects including, the Reichstag dome, Masdar City and the Millau Viaduct.
‘A handsome portrait of one of the most esteemed architects of the modern age’
– Daily Telegraph.
Join Sheffield Civic Trust!
If you love Sheffield and enjoy where you live join Sheffield Civic Trust now, become part of the national civic movement and help make our city even better.
Griff Rhys Jones, President of Civic Voice, told BBC Radio Sheffield that, ” Sheffield Civic Trust is a great organisation that is speaking up for Sheffield – people should join it!”
Annual membership is only £10 Individuals or £15 for Families. Renew your membership / join now on line and your membership will be confirmed until 30 June 2012 - please click here.
Alternatively, just pop a cheque in the post (made payable to Sheffield Civic Trust) to our Membership Secretary, Liz Godfrey at Sheffield Civic Trust c/o 22 Endcliffe Glen, Sheffield, S11 8RW.
Join us and you’ll be supporting our activities in promoting: Heritage Open Days; Design Reviews on major projects like Sheffield Hallam University’s Charles Street development; our fabulous Sheffield Design Awards, which confirmed Leopold Square as Sheffield’s favourite new building; and an extensive programme of events throughout the year.
In addition, since Sheffield Civic Trust are active members of Civic Voice, the national organisation for civic societies, our members also qualify for a free day pass to a National Trust property as well as a similar pass to and an English Heritage property.
Portland Works Community Share Issue
On 16 June 2011 a community share issue was launched to save Portland Works, the birthplace of stainless steel manufacturing, a complex of Grade II*listed buildings and a lively hub for the creative industries in Sheffield.
The site is home to a community of over 20 diverse and thriving businesses, including metalworkers, engravers, woodworkers, artists and musicians. With the owner’s plans to develop the site for housing now withdrawn the site has been offered to the community for sale. In order to safeguard its future, an Industrial and Provident Society (IPS), Portland Works Little Sheffield Ltd, has been created and a community share issue confirmed which allows people to support this initiative. Further details can be found athttp://www.portlandworks.co.uk/
Forgotten Spaces Sheffield 2011- Shortlisted Entries Confirmed
Earlier this week, RIBA’s judging panel shortlisted 19 schemes from 60 submitted entries in the Forgotten Spaces Sheffield Competition.
The shortlist includes a range of innovative, far reaching and practical ideas of how to put to use overlooked or ‘forgotten’ sites in our city.
The judging panel included: David Bickle, director of London-based architectural practice Hawkins Brown; Rory Olcayto, deputy editor of the Architects Journal; Miles Price, from British Land; Norman Wienand, head of architecture and planning at Sheffield Hallam University; Emma England, director of RIBA Yorkshire; and Simon Green, director of place at Sheffield City Council.
Speaking about the shortlist for the Sheffield competition, David Bickle said:
‘I was really pleased by the range of ideas we received for the Sheffield competition and I am satisfied the diversity of the entries has been reflected in our shortlist. It was obvious entries had come from a variety of sources – architects, designers, artists – and our final 19 really reflect that creative mix.’
For further details of the shortlisted projects please open this link
Sheffield’s Civic Day Celebrations 2011
Saturday 25 June is England’s first ever Civic Day and over 200 civic societies and trusts will hold events to celebrate their area.
Sheffield Civic Trust is delighted to confirm the following events to mark Civic Day celebrations next week:-
Thursday 23 June 8.30pm at the Showroom – Film screening – ‘How much does your building weigh, Mr Foster?’ – featuring the life and work of Sir Norman Foster (Baron Foster of Thames Bank).
Friday 24 June meet at 1pm at Park Hill – Free illustrated talk and tour of Park Hill with Urban Splash – please click here to sign up for the tour.
Saturday 25 June meet at 11am at the Peace Gardens – Free guided walk between the Peace Gardens and Park Hill via Sheaf Valley Park / Arboretum – please click here to confirm that you are coming along.
