Sheffield car park on 'world's coolest' list Published duration 22 August 2013

media caption A car park in Sheffield city centre is named third 'coolest' in the world.

A car park in Sheffield city centre has been named the third coolest in the world.

Charles Street Car Park beat thousands of rivals in a competition run by a car parking company and a design magazine.

The 10 storey, steel-clad structure, which opened in 2008, has been nicknamed the "cheesegrater" by locals due to its jagged cubed exterior.

The judges said the design turned "a traditional car park shape into a visually striking building".

Sam Moorwood, senior lecturer in planning and development at Sheffield Hallam University, said the award showed there was no excuse for building boring car parks.

"It's a comfortable car park," he said.

"You've got to get the function right, you've got to get the feel right. After that the aesthetics, the external parts of the building, I think you've got massive flexibility."