My new hometown of Sheffield is one of many cities coming to terms with the closures of big retail chains. Recent news of John Lewis pulling out of its iconic landmark building in the town seems to be a tipping point. How to address the seismic change in the usage patterns of legacy city centre architecture?
NORD Architects A/S - Hejrevej 37, 2. - 2400 Copenhagen NV Denmark +45 3369 0908
Much has been written about the advantages of the change of use from retail to residential. Originally focused on a younger demographic as the infrastructure needed is cheaper. But recent studies have looked at bringing younger families in from the outskirts, which is tricky on a number of levels. From childcare to car usage.
What I’ve not seen before is an experiment happening in Denmark of bringing the elderly to live in the centre of a new development. A collaborative project from locals NORD and London firm UHA. I really like the whole landscape solution to create an integrated community.
Here in the UK, the pandemic has exposed how rubbish our care home system actually is. There have to be smarter solutions. Taking bold steps and reimagining city centre use to also include increases in elderly residents is the type of lateral thinking cities need.
The primary benefits are combating loneliness and social inclusion. But there are many others. Access to transport and health. Plus the ease with which simple design interventions can adapt a cityscape to not just cope but welcome an increase in older residents.
It turns out others have had the same idea. All the way back in 2012 Elizabeth Burton, professor of sustainable building design and well being at Warwick University talked about the advantages of locating older people within cities. Pointing out in The Guardian at the time that the problem with our habit of housing older people outside cities is that.
“‘…the countryside is the last place for creating the inclusive accessible environment that older people need with access to highly specialised hospitals and care…’”
Just over a year ago Phil Bayliss, chief executive of Legal & Generals ‘Later Living’ division said his team was looking at increasing city centre footfall by adapting some of their buildings for elderly use. What we really need is a working case study that elevates the theory to reality. My new hometown could be it.
Sheffield has a fairly unique city geography. Surrounded by seven hills. Anywhere you go outside the city centre involves going up a steep hill. Its part of the culture of the place from ‘The Full Monty’ to the Arctic Monkeys to include struggling up hills as a metaphor. However placing the regions elderly residents outside the city instantly creates challenging transport issues for year-round access (it snows up north, a lot).
I really do believe the collapse of traditional retail and the effects of the pandemic create a once in history opportunity to reimagine what we do with legacy cities like Sheffield. Bold action could create a wholly new type of inclusive urban society. A living city full of contrasting cultures. Built around the needs of the many. From the few years I have spent living here it feels a very Sheffield thing to do.
