Topping Out Ceremony - 5 Merchant Square, London

Shortlisted for ‘Special Tribute to the Country of Honour, UK’ AR Future Projects Award 2011
Shortlisted for BCO awards, 2011

On 27 May 2009, the last piece of concrete was poured on the top floor of the Carmine Building, 5 Merchant Square, Paddington. The ceremony was followed with short addresses given by Michel Mossessian and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. This marked an important milestone on the way to completion of the development.

View of the building from south east

5 Merchant Square is the central icon of the new development of six buildings that make up Merchant Square, Paddington Basin. Situated conveniently between London’s West End and Heathrow Airport, Paddington Basin is one of Europe’s largest regeneration projects. With floorplates averaging around 25,000 sq ft, the building is an elegant and distinctive response to the demand for quality office space in London’s West End. The scheme incorporates a public lobby, a mix of retail spaces and a health club. Its bold triangular volumes promote an open flow of pedestrians toward the basin while striking a fine balance between adjacent buildings and the public square to the East.

The building has an aluminium framed curtain wall system, but unlike most office blocks, it breaks up its monolithic façade with a lively and varied texture. In line with mossessian & partners’ strong environmental ethic, the cladding pre-emptively met the latest energy regulations by significantly reducing the area of glass used to cover its surface.

View of the lobby

The burgundy-coloured central atrium is covered in screen printed glass frit panels which form stunning patterns when viewed at a distance, without tinting incoming natural light. The external terraces are another innovative feature of its design, creating communal spaces where ‘corner offices’ would normally be. 

5 Merchant Square is an iconic addition to the Paddington Basin Site.

An article of Architects Journal