So, Renzo Piano’s stumpy cigarette is almost open. Aflame, maybe. Lit. It’s actually called the Paddington Cube, but it’s almost ready to go. This beautiful 18-storey, cube-shaped redevelopment next to Paddington Station, designed by Shard architect Piano, had originally been given a late 2021 target date for practical completion when it was approved in 2017. Because of Covid, and the unhelpful collapse of the development’s M&E (mechanical and electrical services) contractor Michael J Lonsdale (owing creditors £65 million), it is way overdue, although no less anticipated.
