It’s not often I get to say this, but the North of England has got a new Nordic design destination, and I for one can’t wait to go and visit.
Located in Sheffield’s iconic Park Hill development, the eagerly awaited Nest showroom, whose interior was designed by the acclaimed Harriet Paterson, spans an impressive 3,500 sq. ft.
Part of the largest Grade II listed building in Europe, and one of the most controversial buildings in the UK, Park Hill was originally constructed between 1957 and 1962 by architects Ivor Smith and Jack Lynn.
Inspired by Le Corbusier’s Unité d’habitation in Marseille, this daring duo had the radical vision to bring self-contained, high-density social housing to South Yorkshire. Looming large over the city from its prominent hilltop location, their idea was to create ‘streets in the sky’, encouraging social interaction between residents, easy access to amenities, and fostering a stronger sense of community.
Sadly, after just two decades this utopian ideal began to fall into disrepair. With the collapse of Sheffield’s steel industries, soaring unemployment and a lack of funding, the estate instead became a symbol of broken dreams.
Luckily in 1998 Park Hill avoided demolition when English Heritage awarded it a Grade II* listing, and in 2004 it was taken on by developers with a vision to regenerate and sympathetically redevelop the whole estate.
It was also around this time too that Yorkshireman Christian Hawley founded Nest, after a gap year travelling the world opened his eyes to the power of beautiful, contemporary furniture. While Nest earned its reputation early on as a leading online retailer, developing a physical presence especially in its hometown where people could see, feel and experience their products first-hand was always important.
Today, what was once one of the four original Park Hill pubs, The Scottish Queen, has been carefully transformed into Nest’s new home.
Striking a balance between Park Hill’s original modernist architecture and the natural world, the brutal but soft grey tones of the concrete walls, now provide the perfect backdrop to the latest designs and iconic investment pieces produced by many of my own favourite Nordic brands.
With a wide selection of carefully curated room settings on display visitors can experience for themselves pieces from the likes of Hay, Ferm Living, Gubi and Louis Poulsen, and if you need a little help making those final decisions, Nest also have a personal shopping team on hand to offer one-to-one interior advice and recommendations.
The Nest showroom is at The Scottish Queen, 21-24 South Street, Park Hill, Sheffield, S2 5QX and open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm, but closed Sundays and Bank Holidays.
To find out more visit the Nest website.
All photography by Max Hawley.
Enjoyed reading this post? Then why not take a tour of the new Residential Suite created by Ferm Living at Villa Copenhagen.
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