PADDINGTON MAINTENANCE DEPOT

Originally commissioned by British Railways, the building was designed by architect Paul Hamilton and completed in 1969. Known as 'The Battleship' it has been a familiar landmark for drivers on the Westway for many years. Abandoned and empty since 1990, it remained derelict until 2000 having suffered years of neglect. In recent years it became a celebrated venue for illegal raves.https://vimeo.com/285870613Architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris have brought the building back to life by restoring the exterior, retaining the original mosaic surface, and transforming the interior to open plan offices; the new head quarters for Monsoon and Accessorize.The building is also home to a new collection of international contemporary art. Comprising works by both established and emerging international artists, the collection includes painting, sculpture, drawings and photographs. Some of the first acquisitions include 'Bottari Truck' by Kim Soo Ja and 'Map of the World' by Alighiero Boetti.The collection has been put together with the help of Thomas Dane, Kate MacGarry and Francois Chantala. New works and commissions will be added to the collection over the next two years.