London is associated with Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament, but not all visitors to the city are familiar with Battersea Power Station. But even the famous landmarks need electricity – and this is where the power station came into play for a long time: Battersea supplied a fifth of the city with electricity before it was shut down in 1983.
London is associated with Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament, but not all visitors to the city are familiar with Battersea Power Station. But even the famous landmarks need electricity – and this is where the power station came into play for a long time: Battersea supplied a fifth of the city with electricity before it was shut down in 1983. Thanks to the work of the architects at WilkinsonEyre, the architecture has been open to the public for the first time since October 2022.
The iconic building will be preserved
The site around Battersea measures around 42 hectares. The power station itself is the flagship of the £9 billion urban redevelopment. The aim is to create a visionary new district on the banks of the river. The plan is to create a vibrant community of 4,239 homes, offices, restaurants, cultural and leisure facilities and 19 hectares of public spaces. The district has already been connected to the public transport network and is now part of the London Underground Northern Line.
A new spatial concept for Battersea
The new spatial concept for the listed Battersea Power Station includes 100 stores, restaurants, cafés and an event venue. The former power station also houses office space and 254 new residential units. A unique highlight is the chimney elevator. Lift 109 transports guests to the north-western tip of Battersea, offering 360-degree panoramic views of the London skyline. The architects at WilkinsonEyre worked closely with the Battersea Power Station Development Company to realize this ambitious concept. After almost a decade of intensive work, Battersea Power Station opened its doors on October 14, 2022. It is now open to the public for the first time in its history.
Battersea Power Station retains its historic character
In the former boiler house, two gigantic, spectacular atriums welcome visitors arriving at Battersea from the north and south. To preserve the original southern entrance wall of the power station, arched trusses behind the wall provide the necessary stability. New skylights show the chimneys from below. Due to their poor substance, the towers were rebuilt. The architects used the original construction method from the 1930s and 1950s. Although this process took three years, it preserved the towers as the dominant feature of the power station.
Two turbine halls
The turbine halls, which, like the towers, do not date from the same period, also show little change. Turbine Hall A dates from the 1930s and still conveys the feeling of Art Deco today. In the course of the conversion, its interior windows were supplemented by custom-made galleries with balustrades. These are connected by bridges and enliven the large volume. Carefully restored skylights also fill the hall with natural light. Meanwhile, Turbine Hall B, which dates back to the 1950s, has a more minimalist aesthetic. Both halls now house curated brands from all over the world.
The control rooms at Battersea Power Station
Similar to the towers and turbine halls, the Power Station had two control rooms. From here, the power distribution from Carnaby Street to Wimbledon was managed as well as the power supply to Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament. As a result of the restoration, Control Room A now serves as a unique event space. The architects also showed great sensitivity when converting Control Room B. Here, guests can experience the original dials and controls up close at an exciting all-day bar concept.
The main switchgear, meeting rooms, laboratory and battery of the power station were located in two other parts of the large building complex: Switch House West and Switch House East. After careful renovation, these buildings ultimately became the new home of the 254 residential units.
The original Baumeister, Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, inspired the WilkinsonEyre team, from the drama and scale to the choice of materials. In keeping with the existing building, the entire project combines brick with glass, historic ceramic tiles and steel. Brick manufacturers Northcot Bricks in Gloucestershire and Blockleys in Shropshire already produced the bricks for the construction of Battersea. Now they also supplied the approximately 1.8 million bricks needed for its restoration.
There are fully planted gardens on the roofs of all the main buildings and the outdoor areas around the power station have also been rethought. The former coal storage area in front of the power station and the area that used to be used for railway sidings have been renaturalized and laid out as a park that invites visitors and residents of the district to linger.
The legacy of Battersea
Almost 40 years after the plug was literally pulled on Battersea Power Station, it is celebrating its comeback in a new context. It is one of the most extravagant leisure destinations in London. The architects were not deterred by the condition and size of the power station, but took on the challenge of repairing and transforming it. They began by translating the industrial heritage of the building into a contemporary context. They also emphasized historical features without changing its character. But by no means do they only celebrate Battersea’s original features. The interventions in the internal structure of the building create a new, modern spatial effect and bring everyday life into the power station through the event space, bars, offices and stores. The garden square on the roof and the adjacent park create a balance to the hustle and bustle.
The result is architecture that shows courage and that people can enjoy in a beauty that enhances Battersea and its surroundings. Find out more about Battersea Power Station here.
Also in London, architecture firm Dyvik Kahlen has designed a building for two facilities: A nursery school and a community center.
