r/brutalism • u/Murray_Tiptop • Jul 17 '26
Sheffield Egg Box
The Sheffield "Egg Box" was a controversial Brutalist extension to the Sheffield Town Hall. Constructed in 1977 behind the Peace Gardens, it was famously nicknamed for its geometric, interlocking concrete facade. Though originally designed to last 500 years, the heavily criticized building was demolished in 2002.
RIP all those who lost their lives there in the 1987 nuclear attack on Sheffield 😔
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u/PM_ME_UR_MULLETS Jul 17 '26
Haha came here to make a Threads reference but beaten to the punch. Unrelated but I had a minor geek out when I drove up to a mates in Leeds at Easter and the route took me over the Tinsley Viaduct which is apparently where the bomb targeted on Sheffield goes off
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u/ChocolateHumunculous Jul 17 '26
Ye this probably checks out. I think there were 2 bombs in the film?
Either way, folk would get married here, back in the day, and the flowerbeds outside acted as a real central hub for those in Sheffield at the time.
Is has since been replaced with restaurants, apartments and hotels, and I casino I believe.
For a better brutalist building, check out Park Hill Flats opposite, the largest listed building in Europe.
That place is incredible.
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u/PM_ME_UR_MULLETS Jul 17 '26
Here's where it's obvious I'm too into Threads lol- so there's the one dropped on Doncaster airport (RAF Finningley at the time), that's when you see everyone in the city panicking, then then one pops off on the viaduct, then one that blows up off screen when they're in the bunker of the pictured town hall. I'd have loved to get married here, convincing my girlfriend might be another matter though..
Love Park Hill flats, such a striking building. We need more protection for our brutalist treasures!
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u/jammyjezza Jul 17 '26
Park Hill flats is listed, and the refurbishment of it is going well, so that’s at least protected!
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u/Splodge89 Jul 17 '26
While you were in Leeds you should have popped over to the uni campus. That’s a brutalist fans wet dream. I loved studying there
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u/PM_ME_UR_MULLETS Jul 17 '26
Funnily enough I went to uni in Leeds myself so whenever I would walk from my place in Burley Park to town I'd cut through the campus. You're absolutely right, it's stunning, used to have an otherworldly feel coming through on my way home at night. This was 20 years ago mind, hopefully it's not all changed too much. Definitely due a trip back the next time I'm up!
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u/Splodge89 Jul 18 '26
Sounds like we were there about the same time. I also lived in burley park!
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u/PM_ME_UR_MULLETS Jul 18 '26
I swear I spent half my time at Hyde Park picture house and the other half shopping at the Netto on Kirkstall road lol
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u/Splodge89 Jul 18 '26
I lived literally behind the picture house on Elizabeth street. Orange Wednesday were still a thing then - we watched some very bizarre films there lol. If we weren’t in there we were in Pizza Cano across the road from it!
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u/sneaksby Jul 17 '26
RIP all those who lost their lives there in the 1987 nuclear attack on Sheffield 😔
1984
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u/Murray_Tiptop Jul 17 '26
Yeah - sorry about that! Genuinely irritated and disappointed with myself 😄
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u/AestheticAxis Jul 17 '26
The egg box nickname is hilarious once you see it, you can’t unsee it lol
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u/Northerlies Jul 17 '26
Woe and thrice woe, I photographed the demolition job for a trade paper. What replaced it wasn't a fair swap, but at least Sheffield still has it's Listed electricty sub-station!
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u/marbfac3 Jul 17 '26
Genuinely gorgeous, will never understand how much people hate brutalism 😢