The Hubs

This futuristic building has been variously described as looking like four stainless steel kettles, giant curling stones or even giant flat irons. It is currently owned by Sheffield Hallam University. It houses social facilities for students, meeting spaces for University clubs and societies and the officers of the student body.

It was originally built as the National Centre for Popular Music largely from National Lottery funds (said to be over £15 million). This was a combination of a museum of popular music and an occasional music venue. It was designed by architect Nigel Coates of Branson Coates , following a design competition organised by the Royal Institute of British Architects, and is really a love it or hate it building. In 2011 it was voted the ugliest building in the world in a poll organized by virtual tourist.com.

Actually, no matter your views on modern architecture, that title is hardly justified . There are numerous buildings in the locality that are far more deserving and the nature of the structure certainly celebrates Sheffield's history as the city that invented both large scale steel production and stainless steel as we know it today. The funnels on the roof are intended to rotate to turn into the wind to aid ventilation. This amazing building's role as the National Centre for Popular Music was a financial failure and it only lasted a couple of years despite Sheffield's reputation as a city which produces good local talent ( Joe Cocker, Human League, Arctic Monkeys). The predicted 350000 visitors per year just never arrived.