Park Hill
Park Hill is an iconic example of mid-century British architecture and the largest Grade II listed building in Europe. This celebrated regeneration was led by Hawkins/Brown with Studio Egret West, and was shortlisted for the prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize in 2013.
The £146 million transformation of the Park Hill estate in Sheffield got the go-ahead in January 2007 with an agreement between English Partnerships, Sheffield City Council and developer Urban Splash.
The original building was completed in 1961, and the estate was the most ambitious inner-city development of its time. Covering some 13 hectares, it contains around 1,000 flats as well as shops, pubs and other community facilities. But to meet the needs and aspirations of the broader housing market renewal partnership, an overhaul of his historic estate was needed.
It was decided that the project needed some regeneration and, after much deliberation, four United Anodisers Organic finishers chosen to be used on the sections and panels to give a new look to the building.
A vivid palette of brightly coloured shades was supplied, including red, orange, and yellow, that were carefully selected to return life and vibrancy to the building’s historic facades. Some of these colours were unique to United Anodisers, and all are tested for UV stability.
The anodising was processed to the Z33 Architectural specification that gives a guarantee for the design life of the façade that is not subject to cleaning. The Anodising had to be guaranteed in an industrial environment that historically had a lot of heavy industry.
The architect, Hawkin/Brown, highlighted the importance of the anodised finish for the overall building:
"The most visually striking aspect of Park Hill’s transformation was the replacement of the original façade, of brick panels and timber windows, with brightly coloured anodised aluminium panels and large sections of glazing.
"These new window ‘cassettes’ introduce a shimmering and lustrous effect, with colours ranging from a dark aubergine at the lowest level of the building to a fizzy lime-green at the top."
These colours, produced at our site in 2012, come with a guarantee for the lifetime of the facade and have shown outstanding consistency and durability after more than a decade of exposure, as evidenced in our photos taken in 2025.
UA 120-0
UA 120-0 is a bright yellow shade which adds instant life and vibrancy to a building façade, while also providing all the advantages of anodised aluminium.
UA 130-0
The bright orange tone of UA 130-0 is a statement colour which can give any building a unique, strong identity and a range of other benefits through the anodising process.
UA 140-0
UA 140-0 is a high performance anodised aluminium finish which provides a deep red finish for your building façade alongside a range of practical benefits.
UA 100-0
UA 100-0 is a beautiful light yellow finish that brings a natural, organic colour to architectural façades and other applications.
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View our award-winning facades and landmark structures, featuring our full spectrum of anodised aluminium colours and finishes. Find inspiration from projects in the UK and around the world which demonstrate the versatility and durability of United Anodisers’ solutions for leading architects, main contractors, and facade manufacturers.
