Battersea Power Station Set to Reopen Its Doors on October 14th, 2022 After Major Restoration

 

The newly restored Battersea Power Station, overseen by WilkinsonEyre, will be open to the public for the first time ever starting on Friday, October 14th, 2022. This historic event will give visitors the opportunity to enjoy the first range of shops, cafes, restaurants, and leisure experiences that the power station has to offer.

In 2013, WilkinsonEyre was chosen to lead the refurbishment of the iconic Grade II* listed Battersea Power Station.

The proposed designs are in harmony with the iconic design of Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and maintain the prominent features of the power station, such as the chimneys and turbine halls. Ensuring the grandeur and visual impact of the power station is crucial to the project and is accomplished through the implementation of full-height glass windows along the southern wall, a spacious central atrium, and unobstructed turbine halls.

The designs for the historic landmark carefully balance preservation and innovation, creating a modern events space, retail establishments, and dining options, as well as a public viewing platform, spacious office spaces, and various villas, apartments, and penthouses surrounded by a garden square above the Boiler House and adjacent to the Power Station.

To ensure the success of the project, the designers have emphasized the contrast between old and new, ensuring that every aspect of the building pays homage to its original structure.

The residential portion of the project includes both newly-constructed apartments and villas and renovated units within the existing Power Station building.

Residents of the Battersea Power Station are now able to call the historic landmark their home, following the completion of a major renovation project. The accommodation is spread across Switch House West and Switch House East, which is located on either side of the Power Station. The building also encompasses the top of the Boiler House roof, creating an open garden square in the centre.

As residents enter the building, they will pass through one of two piazzas. Meanwhile, occupants of the Boiler House properties will access their apartments via the wash towers, before taking a glass lift at the base of the iconic chimneys to their designated floor.

Each property within the development is unique, distinguished solely by its location within the converted structure. These homes are among the most prestigious and sought-after addresses in London.

The regeneration of Battersea Power Station reached a major milestone in late May 2021, as residents moved into the newly converted apartments at Switch House West.

 

Retail

The Turbine Halls, which have been beautifully restored, are now open to the public for the first time and will transform into one of London's most exhilarating retail hotspots. By keeping the original fabric and finishes, the spacious interior of the building is utilized to its fullest potential. Across three levels, a diverse range of restaurants, stores, and event venues will foster a lively and uplifting environment.

Office

The Northern Line extension to Battersea will bring top-notch, adaptable office space to the area. Housed in the Boiler House, the six-story design will appeal to innovative tenants who are seeking new work modes, open floor plans, and a raw, industrial look. The biggest office tenant will be Apple, occupying over 46,000m² of space on six floors.  

At the heart of the office environment will be one of the world’s largest atria, at six-storeys high it will filter light to all office areas whilst allowing views of the chimneys above. 

 

Chimney Lift

Capable of accommodating a maximum of 30 passengers, the attraction emerges 109 meters from the top of the 50-meter-high chimney, offering breathtaking 360-degree panoramic views of London. Open to both the general public and private events, the experience commences with a historical exhibition in Turbine Hall A, showcasing the rich history of the Power Station.

 

Control Rooms

The two Control Rooms at the Power Station, which were responsible for distributing electricity from Carnaby Street to Wimbledon and even supplying power to Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament, have undergone a complete restoration. Control Room A is now a one-of-a-kind venue for events, while Control Room B has been converted into a new all-day bar operated by Inception Group. Visitors to the bar will have the opportunity to get an up-close look at the original dials and controls of the Control Room.

 

The Power Station in Battersea is set to become one of London's top leisure destinations, with a host of entertainment venues opening inside. Among them will be The Cinema at the Power Station, which will not only show the latest blockbusters on its state-of-the-art screens but will also host a private members club. Another exciting attraction is Lift 109, a glass elevator that takes visitors 109 meters up to the top of the building's northwest chimney.

On the same day, Electric Boulevard, a new pedestrianized high street running from the south of the Power Station to the Underground station, will also open. This street will link Frank Gehry's Prospect Place, Foster + Partners' Battersea Roof Gardens, and the Power Station.

After almost 40 years of being inactive, Battersea Power Station is now back and ready to become one of London's most exciting retail and leisure destinations. The Power Station's retail offering is housed in two newly restored historic Turbine Halls. Although they look identical from the outside, they are completely unique on the inside. Turbine Hall A is designed in the lavish Art Deco style of the 1930s, while Turbine Hall B, which was completed in the 1950s, has a more brutalist and industrial look and feel.