The Cube in Paddington Square opens in west London

Paddington Square has always been a tricky project. The hotel sits next to a busy central London train station – one with its own complexities, somewhat hidden from the thoroughfare of Praed Street – above a network of tube lines below and at the junction between the city, the railway tracks and the canal system beyond The Paddington Basin was a densely populated urban site with significant challenges. The architects at Renzo Piano Building Workshop point out that with completion in 2024 and the official opening of some of the final areas scheduled for 2025, it took a full ten years for their design to become reality – but it was a task they enjoyed.

(Image credit: Hufton + Crow)

Paddington Square: the story

In fact, Paddington Square’s residential history began when Renzo Piano Building Workshop proposed a rounded mixed-use tower in 2015 that would include around 200 apartments as well as office and retail space. The design and proposal evolved over the following years and eventually crystallized into its current form – a transparent, cube-shaped, mixed-use building comprising offices, food and beverage offerings, retail and a public plaza, as well as a new Bakerloo Line Entrance and ticket hall.

(Image credit: Hufton + Crow)

Architect Joost Moolhuijzen, who has been in charge of the famous studio’s London production since around 2000 and was the partner in charge of the project, emphasizes how proud he is of the result and the level of architectural mastery that the studio had to employ to achieve it not “not just the appearance, but also the permeability and accessibility of the public space on the site.”

(Image credit: Hufton + Crow)

Paddington Square: the design

The architects relocated an existing road to reveal direct access to the station, creating a more visible, new access to the platforms for the public. At the same time, this opening enabled the development of a public square in which several height differences and the paths to the various functions on it were negotiated at the same time. Make no mistake, this is a very used open space, providing access to the train hub, subway, retail and offices above, but also a small break in the greenery and a place to have lunch in the outdoor corner the capital.

(Image credit: Hufton + Crow)

Meanwhile, a 55 x 55 m elevated glass cube high above the ground marks the project’s main visual presence – to allow the complexity of functions and pathways beneath to breathe, but also to clearly define its own identity. Its transparency lends an ethereal quality to what could have been a dense urban space. However, its elegant louvers are not an architectural feat, but rather part of its rigorous sustainable architectural strategy, contributing to the passive cooling system while filtering natural light throughout the day.

Furthermore, the transparent nature of Paddington Square allows views from inside and outside, opening up previously unknown views of the surrounding historic buildings and encouraging dialogue between old and new in the neighborhood.

(Image credit: Hufton + Crow)

Moolhuijzen explains: “Paddington Square is an example of how a private commercial project can dramatically transform a public space in London.” By relocating London Street, we have created a new, more open and welcoming public entrance to Brunel’s Paddington Station. Our goal was to evoke the same emotion at both the station and the square, despite the centuries that separate them. “The station’s roof arches and facades are full of light and intricate detail, creating a unified design language with the modern architecture of Paddington Square.”

(Image credit: Hufton + Crow)

There’s more to come. While the office levels are partially occupied and retail slowly opens below, a rooftop bar and restaurant slated to open in 2025 on the 17th and 18th floors (and including a viewing terrace for the general public) promises to be unparalleled Views London. Watch this area.