Architecture in Sheffield

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I've recently found myself reading the forums of Skyscraper City, a website dedicated to architecture, new buildings and construction projects across the world. Specifically, the Sheffield forums, because change is a-coming: cranes litter the skyline, and wherever you turn, there's a building site.

As part of the council's "Masterplan" for the city centre, Sheffield will undergo a massive transformation over the next few years. The process has already begun – in the three years I've been living here, there have been significant changes already. But these have only been relatively small projects, like the renovation of the train station, or the construction of the Information Commons. The next phase of the plan is a complete overhaul of the city, redeveloping the riverside, moving the markets, re-routing the roads and creating brand new communities.

This is excellent news for architecture enthusiasts, because a city-wide construction project, on a scale never seen before, is about to begin in earnest. At least thirty separate developments, all within a ten-minute walk of the middle of town (and, therefore, also about ten minutes away from our house) including hotels, restaurants, bars, housing, offices, gardens and parks are planned. Which is pretty exciting, to be honest.

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