Battersea Power Station Development, Building, London, Architect, Design

CABE has praised Rafael Viñoly's designs for the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station, supporting both the outline planning and listed building applications. The design review panel was impressed by the intelligent and well-resolved design.

The panel supported the masterplan and the way in which the Grade II* listed building has been made the clear focus of the site within the strong setting provided by a simple new riverside park and the oval form of landscape and buildings to the south. The panel felt the long sinuous residential terraces could be architecturally elegant, and supported the idea that they should encircle the power station.

The panel recognised the complexity of converting the listed industrial shell of the existing power station and was impressed by what had been achieved within the constraints of the building. There was support for the form and materials of the glass rooftop extensions.

Diane Haigh, director of design review at CABE, said: 'In many ways this has been a model process. The scheme was brought to us at a very early stage, and both the developer and the architect have been very open to the panel's comments. We have reviewed it six times - which is unusual - but this iterative process has resulted in improvements at each stage and a very strong scheme which CABE is confident will be a success.'

The panel praised the environmental strategy for the site, calling it both ambitious and pragmatic, and commended the client, Treasury Holdings, for taking sustainability seriously.

Inevitably, for a development of this scale and complexity, there are areas that require further thought but the panel was confident that these could be resolved through planning conditions and development of the design for reserved matters applications.

Issues to be addressed include potential problems of overshadowing, given the density of the development, and ensuring that there is acceptable sunlight and daylight penetration into the apartments at lower levels. Further refinement is also needed to ensure an acceptable microclimate and adequate daylight throughout the public realm. One important point of arrival, Hotel Lane to the east of the power station, could be deep and overshadowed even though it is 25m wide, and more work is required to make sure it is an attractive street. It is also important that the massing of the surrounding blocks allows the power station to dominate in all views.

Battersea Power Station information from CABE 230210

CABE's design review panel has reviewed the scheme five times at pre-planning. The planning application was the sixth review. The chair of the panel is Simon Allford, of AHMM.

PROGRESS AT BATTERSEA - EVOLVED MASTERPLAN FOR POWER STATION SITE ON PUBLIC SHOW

The owner of the Battersea Power Station site, Real Estate Opportunities Limited, invited local residents to view Rafael Vinoly's advanced masterplan for the site at a second public exhibition from 4 - 6 June. It's a year since the first public exhibition, and since then the masterplan has evolved to take account of many comments.

The masterplan has moved forward in close collaboration with Wandsworth Council, the local community, the Mayor and Greater London Authority, English Heritage, CABE, Transport for London and numerous other organisations. We are grateful to everyone for their contribution to the evolution of our plans for this major regeneration site.

The revised masterplan meets all of REO's key objectives of the project:

- it will create a great new place and active district for London and Wandsworth;
- it will play a major part in the delivery of improved public transport in Nine Elms through an extension to the Underground network in South West London;
- it is a viable plan for bringing the historic and much loved power station building back to life to make a 21st century contribution to London, a quarter of a century after it stopped generating electricity;
- And it ensures a low carbon development, with the plans for the power station itself achieving zero carbon status.

Rafael Vinoly's revised plans ensure that no other building on the site will be taller than the shoulders of the power station, and make sure that the power station remains a dramatic centrepiece of the scheme, particularly in views from around the site and from across the river.

The power station's iconic and powerful presence on the site is also accentuated by reflecting pools surrounding the building. This creates space to stand back and appreciate the art deco structure, which will itself be converted into offices, shops, restaurants and homes.

The masterplan includes around 3,700 new homes, 1.5 million sqft of office floorspace, 500,000 sqft of retail, restaurants, a hotel, leisure space and community facilities. It is this mix of uses that is essential to delivering an active place that will bring life to the area. Around 16,500 new jobs will be created within the completed development, along with thousands of construction jobs. Many of the job opportunities will be available to local people.

The scheme will also act as a catalyst to the regeneration of the Nine Elms area, which will be greatly enhanced by the plans to extend the Northern Line from Kennington through to Battersea Power Station. Over the past year, significant progress on the private funding of the Northern Line Extension has been made through working alongside Transport for London and London Underground, and we are grateful to all parties for their encouragement in bringing this scheme forward

Rob Tincknell, Managing Director of Treasury Holdings UK, said, "After two years of consultation, we are confident that we have the right scheme for this crucially important regeneration. Our plans will create a fantastic new place, will restore the status of the power station as a place of glory and will deliver new homes and much needed jobs in a highly sustainable project. We are working tirelessly with Transport for London to secure the Northern Line Extension to Nine Elms, which is essential to achieve the high density redevelopment of the area. At the new exhibition, we look forward to speaking with the local community and listening to their views before we submit our application."

There will be an opportunity for residents to write their comments and views about the scheme which will be considered ahead of submitting the planning application.

The Public Exhibition will be held at the Power Station site at 188 Kirtling Street, London SW8 5BN.

photos © Nick Weall

News Update - Jan 2009
Chimney reduced to 250m high from 300m. Facing opposition from major politicians such as the London Mayor. The developer has warned that refusing the revised tower may jeopardise the Nine Elms area regeneration

Previously: 18 Dec 2008

Battersea Power Station Building : design information

Battersea Power Station Redevelopment architect : Rafael Viñoly

London Architect

London Buildings

Battersea Power Station Architect : Giles Gilbert Scott

Battersea Power Station : main page, with images

Also by Rafael Viñoly in London : Walkie Talkie building

Battersea Power Station redevelopment previous architect - Grimshaw Associates

World Architecture : e-architect - key buildings across the globe

Comments / photos for Battersea Power Station Architecture page welcome:
info@e-architect.co.uk

Battersea Power Station London - page : adrian welch / isabelle lomholt

Website : www.battersea-powerstation.com