Battersea Power Station

Battersea Power Station, sitting on the south bank of the Thames in London, is one of the largest brick buildings in the world and a striking example of industrial Art Deco design. Built by the London Power Company (LPC), it was designed by a team including engineers Leonard Pearce and C.S. Allott, along with architect Giles Gilbert Scott, who also famously designed London’s iconic red telephone boxes.

Construction began in 1929, with the station completed in two phases. Battersea A was finished in 1935, followed by Battersea B in 1955. The building's four towering chimneys and grand design quickly made it a London landmark, although its operations raised concerns about pollution in the surrounding areas.

The power station was decommissioned in two stages, with A Station shutting down in 1975 and B Station following in 1983. Despite its listed status as a heritage site, Battersea Power Station sat empty for years, falling into a state of neglect and appearing on "at risk" registers. Several redevelopment plans came and went without success until 2012 when a Malaysian consortium took over with an ambitious vision for the site's future.

Redevelopment kicked off in 2013, turning the 42-acre site into a vibrant community complete with homes, shops, restaurants, and office spaces. Tech giant Apple even established its UK headquarters within the newly restored power station. The restoration and redesign were overseen by renowned architects from WilkinsonEyre, Frank Gehry, and Foster + Partners. After nearly 40 years of closure, the power station reopened to the public in 2022, signalling a new chapter for this historic building.

Battersea Power Station is famous not only for its architecture but also for its role in pop culture. In 1977, it gained global recognition when it appeared on the cover of Pink Floyd’s *Animals* album, with a giant inflatable pig floating between its chimneys. The iconic building has also been featured in films like Children of Men and The Dark Knight and in video games such as Watch Dogs: Legion.