As long as people have the choice of driving to where they shop and work, we will need car parks and the challenge for designers is to come up with solutions that are functional and work well within the surrounding environment.

The new multi-storey car park on Arundel Gate does seem disproportionately big at the moment but it is important to remember that this is just one part of the Heart of the City programme. Its size needs to be judged when the new neighbouring blocks are complete because the car park will then appear much smaller against the striking 30-storey Conran Tower.

The Arundel Gate car park has been likened to a sugar cube because its skin shimmers, a stunning effect created by the clever device of a standard cowl used in a random pattern to bring light and ventilation into the parking decks, whilst screening them from view.

It is a difficult building type to do successfully but this one is distinctive, well considered and brings something special to the city… one of the stable of challenging new buildings in Sheffield that will mark us out positively from other major cites.

Coun John Hesketh Lib Dem chairman of the city centre planning board

It is one of several buildings throughout the country that are fashionable in architectural circles now but I think will date. Its sharp, angular features don't do anything for the setting of an essentially Victorian part of the city centre.

In conversation, the comments are generally negative.

Car parks aren't difficult to design. That said I think we have learned in this country and elsewhere that the brutal concrete developments of the Sixties and Seventies didn't do us any favours.

Mark Latham, development manager for Urban Splash

The new car park at Arundel Gate is both a significant piece of regeneration for Sheffield and a striking piece of architecture.

The intelligent lighting design brings the building to life at night time while the design capitalises on space and allows the building great functionality as a car park.

"Like Park Hill, the car park is visible from much of the city and as such is a beacon for the regeneration and the quality of design that is emerging in and around Sheffield."

Howard Greaves, Hallamshire Historic Buildings Society

When I first cast my eyes on this monstrosity on our skyline, I was immediately reminded of the old Chubby Checker lyrics, 'Is it a bird, is it a plane?' etc. In this instance one might ask: 'Is it a mirage, is it a joke or is someone just taking the mickey?'

Just what substances were these architects on when they designed the thing?

Of all the designs that could have been implemented to complete the grade I listed Town Hall this is about as far-fetched as you can get. I didn't think the non-lamented egg box could have a successor but it looks like I have been proved wrong.

I sincerely hope that in 30 years, when this horror is demolished, that scrap prices are as buoyant as they are today. In the meantime it will do a fantastic job catching all the supermarket bags that are blowing about.

David Cottam, director of architects Race Cottam Associates

Opinion from the team at Race Cottam Associates was split.

There was a feeling that its overall visual impact was too strong from the centre of town but when viewed from the train station and the top of Granville Road there was acknowledgement that it worked well with the newer buildings in the city landscape. This will be further enhanced when St Paul's Place is completed.

It is good that Sheffield is willing to embrace new and innovative design ideas for what is the most difficult of building forms.

John Vern, manager, Roebuck Tavern, Charles Street

You can see it from out our front window and some people think it's a bit of an eyesore.

We have also got a beer garden and we are getting a mixture of comments from customers. People say it looks like a cheese grater or a Rubik's Cube but it probably grows on you and it will bring more people into the city centre. That's a good thing. Sheffield needs the parking. But I'm not convinced about the design.

Guy Gilfillan, head of Lambert Smith Hampton's Sheffield office

It's Marmite architecture… you either love it or loathe it. Personally I like the design and feel it complements the architectural style adopted for the multi-storey car park at Eyre Street. Together, they provide Sheffield with two very distinctive buildings.

No doubt it can be argued that their metal cladding can also be seen as a link with Sheffield's engineering and steel-making heritage.

However, the new buildings are part of the much wider redevelopment of the area and have to be viewed in that context. I remember that very early phases of the Heart of the City scheme were heavily criticised but I suspect that the majority of people are now impressed by that development.

In the longer term my main concern is to ensure that modern buildings are maintained properly. Modern buildings do not necessarily age in the same way as older buildings made from traditional materials. It is so important for Sheffield to ensure that its new stock of buildings are cleaned and maintained regularly.

There should be an onus on owners of buildings such as these to clean them, either by a planning obligation or, in the case of sites originally owned by the city, as part of the land contract.



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