Artist’s impression of ‘High Paddington’ project, London (circa 1952) - unbuilt.

The ‘High Paddington’ project was a daring concept proposal for a town of 8,000 people to be built above Paddington Station. Designed in 1952 by Sergei Kadleigh, the design incorporated three large towers above a multi-functional podium.

Some proof if it were required that I am not a total concrete fetishist blinded by the light of ‘ugly’. No, this would have been a terrible, terrible idea and I am very glad it never happened and that the wonderful Paddington station remains in situ.

I know I spend most of my time on here talking about concrete and modernism but I have equally as much love for Victorian splendour, Georgian opulence and medieval ecclesiastical brilliance. When I’m posting all these amazing buildings I’m not saying we should destroy Paris as Mr Corbusier had planned I’m simply saying they’re interesting and in the right context they work. And that’s what it’s all about; context. Context is the key to good architecture something that every single bad architect collectively forgot circa 1960 and have yet to re-remember.