‘It’s unjust’: charity fights to save UK’s at-risk modern buildings

The Sheffield Hallam University student union building is one of a number of ‘historic’ buildings of architectural interest across the UK under consideration for redevelopment. Photograph: Gary Calton/The Observer

Sheffielders describe it as “alien-shaped” and like a “kettle” but it seems the former National Centre for Popular Music may soon be consigned to history, with the distinctive building at risk of being bulldozed.

The Marmite structure – soon to be vacated by its current occupant – is one of three in the UK built around the turn of the millennium to feature on the annual at-risk list from the charity Twentieth Century Society (C20), which campaigns to save architecturally interesting modern buildings.