Designs by WW+P and William Matthews Associates for a replacement London Underground substation and vent shaft at Euston, have been revealed by HS2. The cube is the first major structure to be built as part of the transformation of the station ahead of the arrival of high speed services in 2026.
The striking, contemporary four storey high cube will be clad with more than 13,000 faience glazed tiles, similar to those used on many historic London Underground stations including South Kensington, Covent Garden and nearby Great Portland Street.
Faience, a type of glazed terracotta tile, is robust, durable and low maintenance making it ideal for functional buildings. The tiles will help reflect light into the surrounding streets, echoing the traditional practice of cladding the back of tall buildings with glazed tiles to bring light into courtyards and confined spaces.
The tiles will also feature a variety of perforations to allow air into the building and add texture and interest to the façade. Weston Williamson + Partners Managing Partner, Philip Breese said: “The new Euston shaft will be an important building in the reconfiguration of the public spaces around the HS2 station at Euston. The imaginative cladding design has been developed to respond to the technical requirements of the shaft and its position in an existing and part emerging townscape. The use of faience tiles bring a human scale, reflect light and allow the shaft to breathe.”
The Cube replaces an existing vent shaft which is due for demolition to make way for six new platforms and a new concourse at Euston due to open in 2026. It will be located on Stephenson Way, a small street behind the Euston Road, on the site of Wolfson House, a former UCL building, currently being demolished. Tunnels will link it to the Northern line below.
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