Newspaper
Paddington plans
The public realm design will provide the scheme with a strong central axis that extends from the highly successful Sheldon Square, completed as part of the Phase 1 scheme in 2002.
The site, which is defined by transport infrastructure, including the A40 Westway to the north, Paddington Station to the south and the Grand Union Canal to the east, will also accommodate the tunnel head site of the central London section of the Crossrail scheme east-west link through London to Stratford City and beyond by 2012. The Phase 2 development of PaddingtonCentral will make this one of the largest commercial districts within the Paddington Waterside Regeneration Area. Peter Wilder, partner at Macfarlane Wilder, told Vista: "Our client doesn't want us to give too much away as the project is still in the pre-planning stages, but this will be a ground-breaking scheme. The project is essentially inward-looking, and will include a series of dynamic planes that intersect the central axis and provide fluidity and lateral movement to the linear corridor. A strong emphasis on lighting and public art as well as temporary landscape elements will complement the high quality finishes of Sheldon Square, making this one of the most engaging new pieces of landscape in central London."
As covered in Vista last month, Macfarlane Wilder was recently successful in the ODPM's Design for Manufacture competition with the Project 60K consortia. Wilder said: "The Design For Manufacture Competition has focused our mind on efficient design, sustainable technology and modular construction techniques for housing and we are taking this into our urban design portfolio as well. We are looking at the potential of modular components and recycled materials in the construction of temporary landscape elements in a contemporary commercial plaza." He continued: "The PaddingtonCentral scheme brings together an A-list team, including Sheppard Robson, Moren Gregory, Kohn Pederson Fox, Whitby Bird, Faber Maunsell, and construction giant Skanska, to deliver innovative design using the latest technology in urban regeneration and construction."
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