A Visit to London’s Landmark Battersea Power Station
If you’ve been to London, you’ve probably seen Battersea Power Station. The massive brick structure with its four distinctive chimneys (or smoke stacks, as we Americans usually call them) sits directly across the Thames from the exclusive borough of Chelsea.
Yesterday, my wife and I got to have close-up look around the London landmark, and I’m glad we did.
At the start of our tour, the view across the property to the power station.
Construction on the power station began in 1929. It began generating in 1935, and was continuously expanded and upgraded right through World War II until the final chimney was added in 1955. In any context, it’s an extraordinary building. Turbine Hall A was panelled with Italian marble. An auxiliary control room was done in stainless steel. It’s one of the largest brick structures in Europe.
It stopped generating in 1983. And despite two redevelopment plans, it has site idle ever since. Well, maybe idle is too strong a word. Each of the two failed redevelopment plans did some work on the structure — mostly demolition. The roof over central boiler house was removed. Large pieces of the walls have been taken out. Heaps of spoil adorn the site.
In short, Battersea Power Station is today more ruin than destination, but it is still an astonishing building deserving of restoration.
Turbine Hall A is but one example of the power station’s sad condition.
The folks from Treasury Holdings have a plan. Purposefully embracing the ironic, they are planning to convert the power station and the surrounding property into a massive, modern multi-use complex that will be one of the most environmentally friendly in the world. You can get all of the details here, but suffice for me to say that I was blown away.
The developer’s model showing the power station and surrounding area after redevelopment.
It’s the Treasury Holdings redevelopment proposal that opened the power station’s grounds to visitors. You see, the developer is working hard to attract support for their plans, and must undertake a public consultation as a part of their efforts to win planning approval.
The grounds are open to visitors on each Saturday during July and August., and as a result, thousands of Londoners who come to check out the landmark building are also being exposed — and solicited for feedback — about the redevelopment proposal.
It’s brilliant. The building is amazing. And thanks to Treasury Holdings for going to considerable expense to allow people to see it.
For what’s it worth, from my review of the redevelopment proposal, I hope it goes forward. It looks extraordinary. And it will give future Londoners the chance to not just see, but also to enjoy the famous power station.
UPDATE: You can see all of my photos here.