Battersea Power Station Phase Two

Battersea Power Station was built in two phases before and after the Second World War to designs by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott with interiors by J Theo Halliday. Decommissioned in 1983, it became London’s most famous derelict building, vulnerable despite its Grade II*Listed Status and its iconic profile familiar in popular culture. Subject to a series of stalled development schemes it suffered from decay and partial demolition. The power station was added to the Heritage at Risk register in 1991 and remained there for 30 years until its removal in November 2021. Redevelopment finally became possible through purchase by a consortium of Malaysian companies purchasing the 42-acre site in 2012 and the establishment of the UK-based Battersea Power Station Development Company. The centre of a new neighbourhood, Battersea Power Station Phase II is a true mixed-use scheme of considerable complexity. The enormous brick landmark accommodates new offices, retail, residential, event and leisure uses. The surrounding area has been reinvented as a new park and public space. Delivered through long-term investment, the scheme has also contributed to a new Zone 1 Underground Station, while an onsite energy centre provides low-carbon heating, cooling and electricity to the development. The lower parts of the building, including former Turbine Halls (A & B) dating from the 1930s and 1950s are now open as retail, food and beverage galleries while conserving the best of their heritage features, flanked by Switch Houses East & West each with approximately 100 residential units, while the upper part of the central Boiler House is being fitted out as offices for Apple with an event space beneath. The roofs of all main volumes have fully planted gardens, and the roof of the Boiler House accommodates spectacular “villa” accommodation between the iconic chimneys. As lead architect, WilkinsonEyre has taken the design from concept to detail and delivery of this major regeneration project. From the meticulous restoration of key heritage features, such as Control Room A, to bold new structural interventions such as the bow string trusses holding up south entrance walls, the WilkinsonEyre design team have ensured that new and old share a consistent aesthetic. There is a purposeful juxtaposition of historic brick with glass and ceramic tile with contemporary steel. Bricks were sourced from the original brickfields in the midlands to repair the external walls. In Turbine Hall A, the grandeur Art Deco of the faience and internal fenestration is complemented by bespoke designs for the balustraded galleries and bridges that now animate this large volume, filled with natural light from beautifully restored skylights above. In the Boiler House, two spectacular entrance atria now greet visitors arriving from the north and south, showcasing the original walls with their patina of age set off by new roof lights through which the iconic chimneys can be seen from below. The restoration and new interventions have been achieved without losing the sense of scale, drama and history that makes Battersea Power Station.