Béton House, Sheffield

Béton House is the ambitious third phase of Sheffield's iconic Grade II Park Hill regeneration and transforms a lower block of derelict flats into vibrant student housing. Originally completed in 1961, Park Hill is the largest listed building in Europe and is considered a significant Brutalist building of heritage.

Heritage-Driven Refurbishment

Adopting a "retentionist strategy" the team kept much of the original concrete structure intact. By working closely with additional stakeholders, including Historic England, The Twentieth Century Society, and the statutory Local Authority Conservation Department, many of the original features and aesthetics of the project were preserved. For other phases of the project, using 1950s Arup drawings, a detailed 3D BIM model was created to assess the embodied carbon. It revealed preserving structural, non-structural, and original architectural elements - like floor screeds, balconies, partitions, and stairs, saved at least 577 tonnes of CO²e from being released into the atmosphere.

Balustrade spindles, some severely damaged, were repaired rather than replaced - with a 90% restoration success. Repairs to the concrete were patched with a smooth mortar, left visible, then coated with a clear matte sealant to honour the building's history. Replacing the existing timber screens and original double timber windows, 930 TECHNAL minimal frame windows were designed, fabricated, and installed as combination frames of fixed and open-in units by Bradford based glazing and facade specialist Quest Solutions. The full height glazing to space ratio creates a bright and light living come dining area. The previously undesirable open colonnade under crofts have also been transformed into brighter, more open spaces using TECHNAL curtain walling. Fronting the student hub and mixed-use units at ground floor level, standard cap facade has been installed with integrated louvres and opening lights for ventilation, alongside commercial door units installed to the main entrances.

Contemporary Student Living

The refurbished building now accommodates 356 students across a mix of townhouse-style units, studios, and apartments spread over three storeys. Shared amenities include lounges, private dining areas, a gym, cinema, and retail spaces - all echoing the estate's social origins. Inspiration for the scheme's colour palette was derived from the Swiss-French Architect Le Corbusier, which resulted in the iconic yellow, blue, ivory, and black layers, punctuated with pops of red. The facade pattern was modelled fully at the design stage to define the balance between the coloured and black elements. Each townhouse and studio feature bespoke Scandinavian and custom-designed furniture, with individual colour schemes that enhance a sense of identity within a unified structure.

Sustainability and Recognition

By reusing existing concrete and architectural elements, and choosing products that are responsibly sourced, the project significantly cut embodied carbon, reduced costs, and ensured that the building's heritage is preserved. Beton House has received several awards and nominations for this unique student accommodation design within the Park Hill redevelopment. It won "Development of the Year" at the 2020 Property Week Student Accommodation Awards and the Listed Building £5m and over at the AJ Retrofit Awards. Additionally, it was shortlisted for the RIBA Yorkshire Regional Awards in 2023 and earned a special mention in the WATA Awards for residential rehabilitation.