Grimshaw Architects have released submitted a proposal for a major commercial office development planned above the Crossrail station at Paddington in London. The 15-story structure, located at the junction of Bishop’s Bridge Road and the Grand Union Canal, will also provide retail space, a grand colonnade along the canal frontage, and a new entrance to the Hammersmith & City and Circle Line stations below.
Grimshaw Associate Director Declan McCafferty said: “We are delighted to be working once again with Crossrail on what is an exciting and challenging project. We have utilized all of our experience in both the commercial and transport sectors to create a scheme which will provide significant public realm improvements, while integrating the new station entrance and taxi ramp into a coherent and dramatic piece of commercial architecture.”
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The southern edge of the building will step out at high level and supported on a trussed frame transfer structure above the primary taxi route into Paddington Station. The building facades is designed to be divided into three-story bays, with the southern, western and eastern facades incorporating vertical solar-shading louvres. The louvres will rotate along the length of the facade and stagger between each bay in order to provide a strong graphic pattern and play of shadow across the facade.
A new Hammersmith & City line station is due to be completed at the site in early 2014. Once Crossrail opens in 2018, it will be operating up to 24 trains an hour between Paddington and Whitechapel.
