Battersea Power Station - Is this the End or the Beginning?

It can be difficult to let history go and even more challenging to preserve it. Battersea Power Station is one fine example for this statement.

The Battersea power station is the largest brick building in Europe and is notable for its original, lavish Art Deco interior fittings. The building was opened up to visitors for the last time look inside their favorite landmark as a part of the Open House project, London, before it undergoes a radical multi-billion pound redevelopment into offices and flats. Do you think I could afford to lose this chance? I used to see this marvelous building everyday on my way to work and back home without even knowing much about it. But today, I finally got the chance to be the part of it's history and experience it's past. No, my name is not going to be written in golden words or anything, but I did manage to mark my presence at the last visit to the premises ever before its redevelopment.

Battersea Power Station

Built in 1930, this coal fired power station located on the south bank of river Thames was decommissioned in 1983 and the station ceased generating electricity, but over the past 50 years it has become one of the most famous landmark in London. Since it's closure, the station has remained largely unused, however, it has been used for various cultural appearances, which includes a shot in The Beatles' 1965 movie Help!, used in the cover photograph of Pink Floyd's 1977 album Animals, as well as a cameo appearance in Take That's music video "The Flood." In addition, a photograph of the plant's control room was used as cover art on Hawkwind's 1977 album Quark, Strangeness and Charm. Recently a scene from Fast and Furious 6 was also shot in the premises and the last event was held recently on 19 September named as The Power 1000, which reflected the individuals that have made London the most exciting city in the world.

Now the fate of the building has already been decided and much-loved London's landmark Battersea Power Station is all set to undergo the new phases of redevelopment.

Inside View of Battersea Park Power Station

The Battersea power station project is divided in different phases which are likely to be completed in 2016 - 2024. The premises will be now be utilized for prospective residential flats, offices, community halls, medical center, multiplex and a 6 acre park. Though the new designs are already finalized and the models of the proposed structure are already on display, I had only one question in mind. What is going to happen to the chimneys? To which the architects present at the site answered that the chimneys are not in good condition and they will be taken off one by one and will be replaced by their replicas. Ofcourse chimneys are the core essence of the power station.

Battersea Power Station Project

The current chimneys weigh 600 tonnes each with top diameter as 6.5 m and bottom as 8.5 m. The height of the chimneys is 53 m. Width at the top of chimney walls is 10 cm and at bottom is 25 cm. Since the Battersea power station was built in two stages,Battersea A Power Station and Battersea B Power Station  in the form of a single building in 1930 and 1950, the chimneys were also not constructed simuntaneously. SW and NW chimneys were constructed in 1932 - 33, NE chimney in 1941 and SE in 1955.

Moreover, the residential flats which are yet to be built are already sold off. Can you imagine the popularity? Well, I guess it is more like a beginning than an end. What do you think?