Trans Europe Express: the Eurostar arrives at the new St Pancras. Photograph: Cate Gillon/Getty
So St Pancras is finally open. Yesterday was the first time that the general public could walk through the original red brick front entrance to check out what bloggers, environmentalists, critics and commentators have (mainly) been drooling over - London's new Eurostar terminal.
Like thousands of others (most of whom seemed to be queueing for the much talked-about champagne bar), I went in last night for a look round. The roof is truly breathtaking and I loved the way the Eurostar platform reaches almost to the front entrance, boxed off by glass walls. I also admire the incredibly clean and cool Norman Foster extension on the back, which this blogger describes as boring. I live near St Pancras, and walk past - and sometimes under - the extension every day, and think the way its hyper-modernism contrasts with both the ancient St Pancras Old Church just behind it, and the Victorian steam palace in front, is strangely moving.
For me, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Observer's Stephen Bayley, the only duff note is Paul Day's sculpture of an embracing couple at the entrance. Although it's soppy, I wouldn't have been that averse to it if it was anywhere near life size, but it must by 40ft high! It instantly reminded me of the frighteningly large sculptures of Communist icons rounded up in the Statue Park in Budapest.
That aside, the new St Pancras is a wonderful achievement. What do you reckon?
