Known by the locals as either the Cheese Grater or simply the Borg (Star Trek, anyone? If you know you know), the Charles Street Carpark in Sheffield, just opposite the train station, is a pretty stylish building. So much so it was voted the third coolest carpark in the world. The photos I took of it last Friday are raw: nary a filter or an app. was used on either of them. And here's the thing - it will look different every time it's photographed; always cool, but different. If you ever find yourself in Steel City I strongly recommend you seek it out.
Where: Charles St, S1 2NA
Completed: 2008
Architect: Allies & Morrison
Main Contractor: JF Finnegan
Kind of begs the question, what's the 2nd and 1st?
ReplyDeleteTop-Rated and Most "Unique" Car Parks
Delete• 1111 Lincoln Road, Miami, USA: Often ranked #1, this 11-story structure has no external walls, offers panoramic city views, and hosts high-end retail and a penthouse.
• Bold Lane Parksafe, Derby, UK: Renowned for security with 24/7 manned surveillance and secure entry for every vehicle.
• Charles Street ("Cheesegrater"), Sheffield, UK: Awarded for its striking, angular, steel-clad design.
• Parc des Celestins, Lyon, France: Known for its spiral design and underground, circular,,, aesthetics.
Exactly the kind of comprehensive reply I was hoping for. I'm a big fan of the Merseyway car park in Stockport, which has an Alan Boyson modernist frieze round four sides.
DeleteThanks, Adam. Though I was being a tad lazy in just cutting & pasting that extract from my 'source'; that said, who would have thought that Sheffield and Derby would be rubbing shoulders with the likes of Miami and Lyon in the world of carparks?
DeleteJames lives in Stockport, so I may have to suss out the Merseyway. In fact, don't be surprised if carparks feature in a Photo Challenge later in the year.
Like SA I was curious so thanks for the extra info. Just looked at the one in Miami - definitely cool. Having said that I am mighty impressed by the Cheesegrater. Very apt for a Steel City.
ReplyDeleteSame here, curious, thanks for the additional info. The 'Cheesegrater' is beautiful - and it's really good to see a Top 3 for what are so often really quite horrendous and depressing places/structures too.
DeleteD'ya think I could get a grant from the Arts Council to fly out to Miami in the furtherance of architectural/psychogeographical research?
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