The Battersea Power Plant was built in central London in 1944 by Giles Gilbert Scott, the creator of another London power plant, Bankside (now Tate Modern). Battersea is one of the largest brick buildings in Europe, with a built-up area of over 2.43 hectares. From the very beginning, it became a landmark of the city, and since 1980 it received the status of an architectural monument. The station has not been operating since 1983 and entered the 21st century not in the best condition.
After long twists and turns, it was decided that it itself and the adjoining site (only 17 hectares) would be turned into a new urban area according to the master plan of Raphael Vignoli. The £ 8bn investment will add 3,500 new apartments, 150,000 m2 of offices, 45,000 m2 of shops and restaurants, infrastructure, including a metro station and a 2.43-hectare park on the Thames, to be taken over by LDA landscape architects who are currently renovating Moscow Gorky Park. In total, there will be about 7.3 hectares of open spaces.
The project is divided into 7 phases: the first one began last summer, followed by the second, which includes the restoration and adaptation of the most historic station for housing, offices, restaurants and shops (architects Wilkinson Eyre and Michaelis Boyd Architects, restorers Purcell).
It has already been announced that housing there will cost from £ 800,000 for the most modest studio apartment and from £ 1 million for a one-room apartment. One of the famous white pipes will be turned into a shaft for a round panoramic elevator: from its top, spectacular views of the British capital open up.
And now the third stage of the project has been presented to the public - development along Elektricheskaya Boulevard, the new "main street" of the district. On one side there will be Prospect Place designed by Frank Gehry: 5 residential buildings, including the iconic "Flower", as well as a community center and a small park.
Opposite it will be The Skyline, a wave-shaped complex designed by Foster's office. Accommodation is planned there (including 103 inexpensive apartments), a medical center and a hotel with 160 rooms. The roof will be completely covered by a garden over 250 m long.
The first two floors of both Gehry and Foster's buildings will house shops and restaurants.
