Hyde and Park Hill Flats are high rise
"living units" built on the northern edge of
the city centre. Park Hill flats are the larger, and the
older of the two, seen on the right in the above photograph.
Park Hill was the site of the first large slum clearance
in Britain, the previous back-to-back housing were known
as "Little Chicago" in the 1930's, due to the
gangster activities it become infamous for.
The flats were designed by Jack Lynn and Ivor Smith during
the late 1950's, inspired by Le Corbusier's Unite d'Habitation.
Back in 1961, when their construction was complete, they
were seen as revolutionary and forward thinking solution
to the cities housing needs.
The whole modernism thing soured and the rest, as you
know, is history. Today the Park Hill flats are the largest
listed building in Europe. The council hopes to attract
funding to refurbish the flats in the way that was used
on the sister, Hyde Park flats, which can be seen in the
distance, on the left of the above photo. |
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Like towering curtains of concreat, the Park Hill Flats
dominate the northern skyline of the city centre. Ironically,
this ugly duckling has grown up into a fully fledged grade
2 listed compages swan. |
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View an aerial
photograph of the city centre
Download a printable
Map
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