Paddington Central - Paddington Basin, London, UK



Paddington Central is a complex of buildings arranged around public spaces behind Paddington Station and adjacent to the Grand Union Canal.  It has been described as, "a complete environment for work, living and life, a place where business and residential needs have been considered in tandem" The area is virtually traffic free.

Sidell Gibson, the architect, charicterize it as, "a new Business Quarter for London, " with,  "31,600 m² of offices, 210 apartments and over 6,500 m² of shops, restaurants and leisure facilities."  All of this within an area that shows a, "significant commitment to landscaped open space and the public realm. The masterplan places over an acre of public landscaped square at the entrance and heart of the project."

Some of the buildings are grouped around Sheldon Square.















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Kingdom Street leads away from the square flanked by a number of new buildings.  Among them is One Kingdom Street by the architects Sheppard Robson.










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Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates designed Two Kingdom Street which they describe as a, " .... 10-storey speculative office building .... entered through a dramatic double height reception and full height atrium animated by six semi-scenic lifts providing circulation through the building and providing a dramatic backdrop to the entrance lobby and excellent views to the north and west"















At the end of Kingdom Street stands the Paddington Novotel designed by the architectural practice of Dexter Moren Associates.  They say of it that, "Clad in copper-based brass and gold shingles, the building creates a striking landmark for drivers entering London on the M40."  They add that, "A key feature in its development has been the construction of a new, high level, structural deck to enable the planned 'cross-rail' scheme to run underneath the site whilst allowing the hotel to be built above."  The hotel offers guest a pool, restaurant, bar and a choice of 206 rooms including three penthouse suites.






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