#Title: Reform | Gleadless Valley
#Graduates: Andreas
Papallas, Simeon Shtebunaev, Zak Nicoll
#Competition: UN-Habitat
Mass Housing International Competition , 2nd EU prize
#School: University
of Sheffield
Overview of the Competition brief:
The competition aims to render monolithic
mass housing into more socially, economically and environmentally sustainable
areas by integrating mixed uses, improving densities and mobility, and reducing
their Eco-footprint. UN-Habitat is promoting a new urban planning paradigm that
calls for planning in advance at the scale of expected development of cities
with a better integration of urban uses – housing, business, retail,
recreation, education, agricultural, social and cultural activities, amongst
others, in an environmentally sustainable manner. The ultimate goal is to
attain the social, economic, environmental and cultural sustainability of
cities.
Reform | Gleadless Valley manifesto:
When one considers mass housing that is in
need of improvement or intervention, it is the slums or extremely dense tower
blocks that come to mind. However, it is not only the dense compact areas of
living throughout the world that have become areas of depravity, crime or bad
reputation. The area this design proposal focuses on is a sprawling mass
housing scheme from the bygone era in Britain of mass government housing. Built
in between 1955 and 1962, a period where the government managed to erect
300,000 new homes a year, the Gleadless Valley estate in Sheffield, is a
typical example of how the government tried to solve the need for mass housing.
In the Sheffield urban folklore, Gleadless is eponymous with deprivation,
anti-social behaviour and crime. In 2013 Sainsbury introduced a ban to the area
after repetitious attacks on its vans; a move Tesco had already enforced upon
the area, creating the image of a no-go area. It seems to be abandoned by
everyone, even the Sheffield Council clearly state on their website – ‘no
comprehensive vision for the area is in place’. A mass housing estate with
little functions apart from residential ones, resting on the steep hills of the
valley, the locality seems to be in a state of limbo.
Surprising it might seem, that there are
active organisations in the community - there are litter pick days being
organised, protests against raising taxes and a strong desire for a better
future. Gleadless boasts one of the best views and areas of natural beauty in
Sheffield, it has good transport links and promising future. This proposal
suggests that the trap in which Gleadless has fallen is not unavoidable. We
want to initiate the dialogue about Gleadless Valley by providing a proposal of
a possible future, a future that could be achieved with relatively cheap ways,
with a strong lobby in the council and active residents. We believe that there
is a community in Gleadless Valley trying to escape the perceived image of the
area. Our proposal will provide them with a tool, which could be used to stir
the waters and initiate the discussion about the future of the area. The
suggested methods are applicable in many estates that have fallen in the limbo
and we encourage organisations and individuals to take further these proposals
to improve their locality.
Reform | Gleadless Valley was awarded 1st
prize at the national level of the competition (United Kingdom) and 2nd
prize at the regional level (Europe and other OECD countries).
Reform | Gleadless Valley team consists of
three recent University of Sheffield, SSoA graduates: Andreas Papallas, Simeon
Shtebunaev, Zak Nicoll.
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