Good examples of modern architecture in Yorkshire, Buildings in Leeds Area, Northern English Property
4 fantastic examples of modern architecture in Yorkshire
6 September 2021
When someone asks you to think of a prime example of modern architecture in the UK, buildings like the Shard or the Gherkin probably spring into your mind.
However, architectural excellence doesn’t end in London and the South. There are plenty of hidden and not so hidden gems to be found as you move further north of the country. Buildings that are at the top of their league in terms of aesthetics and technological excellence.
With that in mind, here are four fantastic examples of modern architecture in Yorkshire.
- The Diamond Building
Whilst there are many hidden architectural delights in Yorkshire, The Diamond in Sheffield is one that you simply cannot miss.
Designed by Twelve Architects and based at the University of Sheffield, the exterior of the building comprises an anodised aluminium and glass façade, sculpted to create a pattern of interconnected diamonds of varying sizes.
The building is home to the University’s Faculty of Engineering and its first-class design no doubt provides a great deal of inspiration to the thousands of students who pass through its doors each year.
- The Bright Building
Modern architecture is perhaps not the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of Bradford, but it’s university’s Bright Building is truly spectacular.
Completed in 2013, part of the brief for this building project was to create a piece of architecture which would inspire sustainable construction.
With sustainable features such as low carbon technologies, rainwater harvesting systems and air source heat pumps, this modern marvel met it’s brief, achieving a BREEAM award of Outstanding for its eco-friendly design (the highest rating in the education sector at the time).
- 3M Buckley Innovation Centre
A former mill building transformed into a state-of-the-art enterprise hub, the Huddersfield-based 3M Buckley Innovation Centre perfectly blends the old with the new.
The building has won multiple awards for its architecture, including Best New Development (Huddersfield Civic Society Design Awards 2013) and a BREEAM rating of Excellent for its superb sustainability features.
From office and lab space rental to access to leading technology and skilled engineers prepped to help combat core business challenges, the building not only looks fantastic but provides essential services to local entrepreneurs.
- Bridgewater Place
Designed by Aedas and nicknamed the ‘Dalek’ by some, due to its distinct sloping edge and aluminium cladding, Bridgewater Place in Leeds is something of a marmite building in the world of architecture.
However, it makes our list due to its gargantuan size and distinctive appearance. Standing at 110m high, this skyscraper can be seen miles away from the city centre, making it a key emblem for the city of Leeds, that you simply cannot ignore.
Those are our picks. You’re more than welcome to share your own examples of modern architecture in the comments section.
Yorkshire Architecture
The Diamond Building at The University of Sheffield
Design: Twelve Architects
photograph : Jack Hobhouse
The Diamond Building at The University of Sheffield
Bridgewater Place tower, Leeds
Design: Aedas, Architects
photograph © Adrian Welch
Bridgewater Place Tower
Contemporary Architecture in Yorkshire
National Railway Museum’s Central Hall
Design: Heneghan Peng Architects
image courtesy of architects studio
National Railway Museum York Design Competition News
York Art Gallery Building
Design: Ushida Findlay
image courtesy of YAG
York Art Gallery Building
New Buildings in Yorkshire
New Architectural Designs in Yorkshire – by city:
Comments / photos for the 4 fantastic examples of modern architecture in Yorkshires page welcome
