Voted one of London's favourite landmarks, ever wondered what's in store for Battersea Power Station? Stuart Spicer reveals all
Battersea Power station, a familiar sight to all Londoners, is one of the more iconic buildings in the city. It was recently voted one of the favourite London landmarks in Time Out magazine. It officially closed all operations in 1982, and has remained relatively unused ever since, only being opened for a few special occasions. For almost a quarter of a century it has stood as one of London’s most significant sites for potential ‘Brownfield’ development. Recent building proposals have ignited a flurry of speculation regarding the future of the site.
According to the owners, Parkview International, a £1.5 billion redevelopment plan is being undertaken to convert it into an entertainment, arts, leisure, and residential complex. While this is taking place over the next few years, the station will host a variety of major arts events, starting with the Serpentine Gallery in October. This exhibition will take over Turbine Hall B, and will comprise a selection of Chinese video, audio, and installation art, according to the company website. Parkview became the owners in 1993, and have spent the subsequent time preparing redevelopment designs and proposals. Property tycoon Victor Hwang owns the company.
For most people, October will represent both the first opportunity to actually see the inside of the power station, and the last opportunity to see the interior before the redevelopment begins. The huge space within the turbine Hall, along with the dark stretches of the upper levels, is regarded as an ideal setting for the temporary gallery to be housed.
Battersea Power Station was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott (Tate Power Station, Liverpool Cathedral, Waterloo Bridge, the red telephone box), and first opened in 1933. The second turbine hall and the additional two chimneys were added in 1953. The site covers an area of 36 acres, six of which are taken up by the power station itself (now a Grade II listed national landmark). The power station is one of the largest brick buildings in Europe, so big you could fit both St Paul’s Cathedral and Trafalgar Square inside it.
As well as art exhibitions, we can expect to see concerts, shows, sports events, a multiplex cinema, and markets making use of different parts of the site. Of particular interest is the boiler house, which will have the potential to accommodate over 2000 people in a variety of events. The redevelopment of the site will also include the building of hotels (including a 460 bedroom Hyatt hotel), conferencing rooms, bars, clubs and restaurants. The summit of one of the four chimneys is set to become the most exclusive restaurant table in London. Phase One of the scheme, including the power station itself, will open fully in 2010, with Phase Two intended to follow in 2011. The proposed surrounding buildings will be at the forefront of conceptual architectural design, and fitted in an ultra-modern style on the inside. The redevelopment plans will be accompanied by huge improvements to transport and infrastructure around the area. Around a quarter of the site will be saved as landscaped open space. Also, the site is intended to be entirely self-sufficient in terms of energy use, making it one of the ‘greenest’ developments of its kind.
There has been some doubt raised as to the viability of this project though, as it is so ambitious. Many people are sceptical as to whether the building can really be saved, having become so heavily decayed and dilapidated. The scale of the task famously defeated the Alton Towers creator, John Broome, in 1987, when his attempts at revitalisation (he proposed to convert the site into a theme park) came to an abrupt end. So can Parkview International turn the site around, after another decade of degeneration? An incredible £200 million has already been spent on preparing the site prior to the restoration, though this is all said to be part of the plan. Many parts of the building, including the four chimneys, will need to be completely rebuilt due to extensive corrosion. An anonymous industry commentator described the situation as a ‘vicious downward spiral’. The runaway costs and long-term failure of the Millennium Dome are something that will hopefully be avoided with this project. Regardless of claims to the contrary, company officials remain confident and determined, insisting the project is on course and set to be a success.
The project has met with some public opposition. The chimney demolition plans were recently the subject of public protest – it was felt the originals could still be saved. Hwang and Parkview International have also come under attack for ‘neglecting’ the site since taking ownership in 1993. The criticism came about because the company is viewed as having done little to preserve the building over the last ten years, despite plenty of opportunity. The resignation of several key project members has also been regarded, by many, as a bad omen. The Battersea Power Station Community Group website provides information on some of the concerns and issues surrounding the project.
For a huge number of people this is a highly welcomed project providing Parkscape’s finished project lives up to expectations. The site is expected to create about 9000 jobs, when fully operational, not including the 3000 jobs needed for construction. In short, if all goes according to plan, it will become a dynamic centre of activity, culture, and commerce, and is likely to become one of the major attractions of the city in future years.
For more information on the project visit thepowerstation2.globusmedia.com and Battersea Power Station Community Group www.batterseapowerstation.org.uk
