URBAN DESIGN PRESENTATION

ASWIN SINGARAVEL RAJ R

101111029
INTRODUCTION

Sheffield has been experiencing somewhat of a renaissance lately. Since the collapse of the steel and
coal mining industries in the 1970s and 1980s, the city is in a state of economic recovery, slowly
transforming itself into a vibrant, liveable environment. One side effect of the economic recovery has
been the improvement of old industrial areas around the city, which has had public support at the city
centre level. Improvement of the city centre has taken the form of good quality public spaces, new
recreational facilities, small pocket parks and access to rivers (Senior Council Officer, 8 th June 2005).
The Devonshire Quarter is the star of the city centre, boasting a large amount of these
improvements, including urban green space, independent retail, mixed-use and mixed-tenure
housing and meetings spaces for youth.
DEVONSHIRE QUARTER
The Devonshire Quarter sits in the west part of the city, on the southern slopes of the high
ridge separating the Don and Sheaf Valleys. Its location allows good views of the surrounding
country to the north and the south.
Aerial view of the Devonshire Quarter.
The Devonshire Quarter was largely
agricultural land until the beginning of the 19th
Century. Owing to its remoteness from river
valleys, the water-powered industry could not
operate here. The railways also bypassed the
area. With the advent of steam power,
however, the area developed quickly in grid-
like form, with a dense mix of three-storey
terraced housing, factories, workshops, pubs,
shops and places of worship. Many of the
factories and workshops were domestic in
scale and light in trade. Instead of steel and
heavy engineering – which relied on the
railways and water to function properly –
trades such as cutlery, hollowware and tool
manufacture flourished.
Location: center of Sheffield, England, in a traditionally industrial and residential neighborhood.

After WWII the demolition of derelict buildings lead to a series of disjointed developments during the early
1980’s that created the opportunity to reinvent the district. Recent developments are mixed use and much
more urban in nature. Housing components achieve densities of up to 180 dwelling units per acre. As a
result, Devonshire Street is now known for its independent shops and variety of pubs and bars that have
energized the Quarter as an alternative, hip urban village.

Population: Over 1,000 and is expected to grow to more than 5,000.

Significant public realm improvements strengthen the connection between the Quarter and the Sheffield
city center. Devonshire Quarter offers lessons of how infill development that provides a proper mix of open
space and land uses combined with a range of public realm initiatives can create a vibrant urban
neighborhood.
URBAN DESIGN DECISION-MAKING :

Five stages of the Urban Design Decision-Making Process for the Devonshire Quarter can be found from the
timeline of the project. These stages correspond with major decisions made over the past 25 years.

1) The decision to keep Devonshire Green an open space and to create an open park on the land.
Consideration of sustainability is reflected in the development of an open space, which included the mixed-use
and mixed-tenure housing in and around Devonshire Green.

2) The decision to allow inner city housing grants to fund housing in the Devonshire Quarter.
Knowledge of the economic climate of the city was used, and mixed-use was considered. Consideration of
sustainability issues can be found in the maintenance of open space and the creation of affordable city centre
accommodation.

3) The decision to open the Forum.

The Forum offers promising beginnings for new businesses, who can start small in the Forum and move to
bigger premises. A diverse clientele use the Forum due to its mix of uses, which make it a flexible development.

4) The decision to design and build the West One.

The developers strove to incorporate sustainability issues into both the design and the build of the project. This
included energy efficient materials, soundproof insulation, limiting waste, landscaped roof gardens, public
spaces and discussion of crime issues.

5) Decision to create the Devonshire Quarter Association.

This consisted of members of the voluntary sector, businesses, residents and students. Although the
Devonshire Quarter is not sustainable (it will disband when Devonshire Green is finished), sustainability issues
are seen as important, and crime issues are taken into account, as well as the diversity of the local population.
The district also has The Forum shopping
centre and Devonshire Green, one of the
largest open areas in central Sheffield.

To the west, the quarter is bounded by

Sheffield's inner ring road and includes a
small social housing estate. Glossop
Roadand West Street are to the north, Carver
Street to the east, and Moore Street
and Charter Row to the south-east.
DEVONSHIRE QUARTER PLAN

Within the Devonshire Quarter, 5 areas

have been designated, each with different
physical and economic characteristics.

Character Areas
A. Division street/West Street
B. Broomsprings/Gell Street.
C. Devonshire Green
D. Wellington Street/Charter
Row.
E. Milton Street

Significant Buildings
• Taylor’s Eye Witness, Beehive and Taylor’s Ceylon
Works
• Wharncliffe Fireclay Works
• Aberdeen Works, Trafalgar Works, Select and
Kangaroo works.
• Springfield Board School
• Carver Street Methodist Chapel
• Facade of Mount Zion Chapel
• Original developments on Division Street,
Canning and Gell Street
• Former Glossop Road Baths
• Former Fire Station
• Workshops at No 23, Carver Street
Quarter Analysis KEY • National School at No 35, Carver Street
Unlisted building
Public space
Landmarks
(contribute to area character) • Church of St. Matthew
Views Listed building Character areas
Overlay of the Devonshire Quarter
on an amenities distance wheel.
 1. DIVISION STREET/DEVONSHIRE STREET/WEST STREET
•CORRIDOR
This area contains most of the retail activity – including many
independent shops in comparison to the High Street – and
much of the bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants in the
Devonshire Quarter.
• In addition to retail and entertainment, this area benefits from
small manufacturing businesses, an important office sector
and voluntary organisations.
• Resident accommodation also comprises a significant
proportion of building space in the area. Over 1000 people
live in the area, in places such as Victoria Hall (student
accommodation), the Old Fire Station and Royal Plaza.

Division Street is a strong axial route connecting into

the heart of Sheffield
City Centre
View down West Street, Devonshire Quarter.
 ISSUES IN THIS AREA:

• The mixed-use feel of the area may have contributed

to some problems.
• There is concern over noise and behaviour issues
associated with late-night bars and clubs.
• Fear of crime, poor lighting, street begging and a
substandard quality streetscape are other issues
within the area

Aberdeen Court, Division Street

Division Street, Devonshire Quarter, Sheffield, looking Corner of Division Street and Westfield Terrace,
east with the Town Hall in the distance Devonshire Quarter.
 2. BROOMSPRINGS/GELL STREET

• Much of this area is residential, with a population of about 1000 in

1998. New developments, particularly on Fitzwilliam Street (West
One), Glossop Road and Cavendish Street, help to increase this
diverse population.

• Projects like West One, and Royal Plaza on West Street, should Springfield School
help to “encourage economic growth and set a new standard for
residential developments aimed at attracting and retaining long-
term residents.

• Residents and businesses would like to maintain the diversity of

income groups, ages and lifestyles within the area, so efforts are
being made to procure dedicated community facilities. These
facilities would also help to decrease drug dealing, vandalism and
the lack of things to do for teenagers in the area.

• Between Gell Street and Victoria Street, a “pocket park” exists,

with a playground, basketball and football pitches. The area also
benefits from Springfield Junior and Infants School, intermingled
with terraced and detached houses with gardens.

West One, Devonshire Quarter.

 3. DEVONSHIRE GREEN
• Devonshire Green is the largest public park in the City Centre and is thus an important space.
• It covers an area of approximately 9000 square metres and is designated as a district park by Sheffield
City Council. It stands in the Devonshire Quarter of the city centre, bordered on its four sides by
Devonshire Street, Fitzwilliam Street, Eldon Street and Wellington Street. It is the only large green
space in the city centre.
• It is a community focus in the quarter with activities, particularly in the summer
for young people, such as skateboarding and concerts.
• The redevelopment included the complete relaying of all the turfed areas and the planting of 340
square metres of high-quality flower beds which contain more than 23,000 bulbs and 22 semi-mature
trees.

Sculptured "sitting walls"

Devonshire Green - community focus.
were created to provide 184
metres of seating and
enclosure for the planting
beds which line the
boulevards which have
improved lighting. A terraced
grass amphitheatre space
was also created which can
be used for events and
festivals.
Skater Park in Devonshire Green
 4. WELLINGTON STREET/CHARTER ROW
• This area is dominated by 1960s office blocks – Milton House, Chesham House and Telephone House
– along Charter Row.
• Part of this block includes a multi-storey car park, a restaurant and a nightclub, and is connected by a
skyway.
• The remaining part of this area consists of principally 20th Century industrial and warehouse buildings
with a mix of uses, including artist studios.
• The streets along Charter Row include subways, which are perceived to be unsafe, unattractive and
poorly lit.

5. MILTON STREET/EGERTON STREET

• This area is largely industrial, focusing on metalwork,
cutlery, fabrication and engineering. Buildings, such
as the Beehive and the Eye Witness Works, lend the
area some character.
• Small terrace housing in multiple occupation provides
some distinction to the industrial buildings, as does a
former school, a training centre and retail premises.
• One source of concern in the area is the impact of
controlled parking. Some people would like firms
without off-street parking to have a parking scheme
similar to residents.
THE WEST ONE BUILDING

The West One building, designed by careyjones

architects, has operated as a significant orientation
and activity point overlooking Devonshire Green and
on an axis with Sheffield City Hall along Division
Street.
Sheffield One, comprised of English Partnerships,
Sheffield County Council, Yorkshire Forward, has
worked to create dynamic and mixed growth along
this significant new axis.

The Devonshire Quarter, located directly west of

Sheffield’s city centre, is anchored by Devonshire
Green and the West One Development and
stretches eastward along Division Street toward
Sheffield’s city centre.

West One Development, Devonshire Green,

Devonshire Quarter, Sheffield
 BUILDINGS
• Contemporary architecture is respectfully
integrated with the existing urban fabric
while forming the edges of the Quarter.
• Neighborhood retail and services located
along mixed use streets create safe, active
urban environments.
• The courtyard located on the roof of the
retail spaces creates common space and
contributes to storm water management.
Surrounding buildings are appropriately
scaled to frame the space and offer a sense
of enclosure.
• The courtyard contains a variety of uses
including gardens, seating areas and open
lawn. Hedges separate private space from
public space.
• Balconies provide private open space for
residents.
• Signature architecture in the plaza creates a
sense of place and identity.
• Locating the stair tower at the corner of the
building and enclosing it in glass creates an
iconic element while offering views and
reinforcing “eyes on the street” for security
 SPACES
• The integrated system of open spaces
contributes much to the identity and order
of the Devonshire Quarter.

• Open spaces create internal nodes that

are linked by view corridors and
pedestrian ways to historic icons of the
city, St. Georges and St. Mary's Tower.

• Devonshire Green, the largest open

space in the Quarter, is visible and
accessible from all sides and serves as
the informal center of the community.

• The gently sloping and terraced lawn

encourages leisurely use as well as
orientation and seating for performances.

• Surrounding residential and retail uses

overlook the open space ensuring
constant public monitoring.

• Diverse open spaces allow for a variety of

uses, passive, active and playful.
 CONNECTIONS

• Streets act as connectors bringing users to

a variety of spaces within the city.
• Multi‐modal streets accommodate light rail,
buses, automobiles, bicyclists and
pedestrians.
• Storefront façade heights and materials are
scaled for the pedestrian user.
• Narrow street widths and proper building
massing create a pleasant and human
scaled environment.
• Active uses front the street, creating a
vibrant, safe urban environment.
• Permeable facades allow light spillover onto
the sidewalk and constant
monitoring of public spaces.
• Contemporary architecture is scaled and
proportioned to complement traditional
architecture.
• New development terminates street view,
and pedestrian through ways form gateways
into the development.
 INNOVATIONS

• Site elements such as lights, signs,

traffic signals and regulatory signs are
integrated and consistent, reducing
clutter and creating a better pedestrian
environment.

• The district name engraved in the light

pole reinforces identity, and creates a
strong sense of place.

• Indirect fixtures reflect light to the

sidewalk, creating a softer ambiance
and contribute to dark sky protection.

• Traffic signals are placed on poles

adjacent to the street, allowing for
unobstructed corridor views.