In this week's comments update, readers are discussing Paddington Square, a contentious mixed-use building in London with curtain walls and an exposed steel structure completed by architecture studio Renzo Piano Building Workshop.
The 55-by-55-metre cube contains private offices, which make up the bulk of the building, while its base incorporates public amenities and a plaza connecting the building to the London Underground.
Renzo Piano Building Workshop completes "big cube" in Paddington
"What is wrong with the English""
Commenters were divided. "This was very skillfully done, and I think this building will be greatly appreciated over the years" commended Burrlamb.
"Simple, elegant and taut in form and detail ? expect nothing less out of this guy!" agreed MKE Tom. But not all readers were quite so smitten.
"It's just another nondescript glass box," wrote a dismissive Alfred Hitchcock. "Piano didn't even have to get out of bed to design this," they quipped.
Other commenters drew parallels between the design of Paddington Square and The Shard. "Didn't Renzo Piano Building Workshop design The Shard as well"" asked Z-dog, before adding "if it ain't broke...".
Meanwhile, Steve Matthews described it as "hideous". The exasperated commenter asked "what is wrong with the English"" before suggesting that "they have wrecked every city with ugly, modernist, dystopian...