London-based curatorial agency Lacuna Projects have been appointed by Sellar, in partnership with Great Western Developments Ltd for the realisation of a major public art programme at Paddington Square.
With a brief to programme both permanent and temporary artist interventions, the project team will work to enliven multiple sites at Paddington Square, including the large public square being created immediately adjacent to Paddington Station, a new landscaped restaurant street opposite the new Bakerloo Line entrance and the main 18-storey building itself designed by international architecture practice Renzo Piano Building Workshop.
“We are delighted to develop a public realm art programme that embodies Paddington Square’s unique urban vision and reflects the evolving discourses of life and culture today. Our curatorial approach sheds light on the best of contemporary public art and thrives on the valuable contributions of the local community and the creative potential of Paddington Square.”
– Stella Ioannou (Director) & Jade Niklai (Associate Curator), Lacuna Projects
Lacuna Projects has been appointed following an invited competition. The brief will activate the site as a civic space and urban destination, connecting to and working with the local community and attracting diverse audiences with a dynamic artistic vision, presenting different types of artworks from both international and UK artists. The public art programme will celebrate this new London quarter and offer opportunities for contemporary art encounters and civic conversations, for both those who work at Paddington Square and the many millions of visitors who will pass by and through annually. The Paddington Square art programme is scheduled to be unveiled in Spring 2022.
“We are passionate about art and design, and are delighted to have appointed Stella and the Lacuna team, who will play a crucial role in shaping and implementing a high-profile series of commissions at Paddington Square. Their track record in delivering impactful public art projects was matched by a forward-looking curatorial approach that mirrored our own ambition to create inspirational cultural moments for our communities, the Paddington area, and for London. We very much looking forward to unveiling our plans, and the commissions themselves, as Paddington Square moves towards its public opening in 2022”
– James Sellar, CEO of Sellar
About Paddington Square
Paddington Square is being developed by award-winning Shard developer Sellar on behalf of owners Great Western Developments Ltd., a joint venture between Hotel Properties Limited (“HPL”) and Anchorage View Pte. Ltd. (“AVPL”).
HPL was listed on the Stock Exchange of Singapore in 1982. Today HPL has interests in 36 hotels spanning 15 countries and has established its position as a niche property developer of premium residential and commercial properties. AVPL is a privately held property investment and development company, established in Singapore.
Conceived by Sellar and designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop, the main building will create a super-connected urban destination and new cultural encounters in central London. It will feature 14 floors of bright, flexible workspace at its heart, with four floors of shops, dining, wellbeing and leisure, West London’s highest rooftop restaurant, a new Bakerloo line station entrance and 1.35 acres of new art and design-led civic space.
It connects the major local landmarks of Paddington Station and St Mary’s Hospital, and sits at the intersection of West London’s famed waterways, natural spaces and green travel routes. The nearby Grand Union Canal and confluence of public transport options make the area one of the most efficient, connected and accessible hubs in the city. Paddington is just four minutes from the West End and 15 minutes from Heathrow Airport, with National Rail serving routes to the west of England and the Elizabeth Line set to bring cross-London travel times down significantly. It is set to complete in Spring 2022. www.paddingtonsquare.co.uk
About Lacuna Projects
Lacuna Projects is led by Director Stella Ioannou, partnering on the Paddington Square public art programme with Associate Curator Jade Niklai. Together Stella and Jade bring to the project exemplar curatorial and project management skills in art, architecture and design and continue to build Lacuna’s reputation in realising contemporary public art projects. Sculpture in the City (2010) is Lacuna’s signature project and central London’s ambitious urban sculpture park realised through the City of London Corporation’s public realm strategy and delivered in partnership with the city’s arts community and local businesses. To date, the project has showcased 113 artworks by 94 contemporary artists from 29 countries, attracting over 400,000 unique visitors each summer. lacuna-projects.com
