In 2022, Battersea Power Station, London's largest regeneration project, will enter an exciting new phase as it is transformed into a place for all to live, eat, work, and play.
Switch House East, the second residential component of the completed Grade II* listed building, is now open to residents in the £9 billion riverside neighbourhood.
Switch House East makes use of the power station's existing historic structure and offers studio, one, two, and three-bedroom apartments.
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Many of the building's original elements were restored during the redevelopment, which was overseen by WilkinsonEyre as lead architects, with the new homes featuring 1940s brick and steelwork while introducing a contemporary feel to the building's industrial heritage.
Switch House East, in addition to the apartments in the historic structure, offers modern duplex apartments on three glazed floors added to the top of the building.
The new homes have open-plan living and dining areas, fully equipped open-plan kitchens, and hardwood floors. Each home also has floor-to-ceiling windows that maximise the stunning views of the River Thames.
Battersea Power Station Development Company (BPSDC) chief executive officer Simon Murphy stated that when its shareholders took over the site nearly ten years ago, Battersea Power Station had been derelict for more than 20 years.
"Thanks to their commitment, today it is fast becoming one of London's most sought after and well-connected riverside neighbourhoods with the recent opening of the Battersea Power Station Zone 1 Underground station," he said in a statement.
Murphy said BPSDC is confident that Battersea Power Station will be one of London's destination hotspots in 2022, following the development's most transformational year to date in 2021, when it welcomed its first residents, as the Power Station came to life for the first time in almost 40 years.
"Looking ahead into 2022, the completion of Switch House East marks the first milestone of the year, as we take another step closer to completion. Opening the rest of this historic building to the public later this year will see residents, members of the local community, Londoners, and international visitors enjoy a mix of uses for years to come," he said.
Switch House East, the second residential element of Battersea Power Station, is now complete and welcoming residents. Photo by Taran Wilkhu courtesy of Sime Darby Property
Designed by architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, Battersea Power Station was built in two stages with Battersea A, which includes Switch House West being completed in 1933, and Battersea B, which includes Switch House East coming into service in 1944.
Taking inspiration from both these eras, renowned interior architect, Michaelis Boyd has curated two interior design palettes which reflect the Power Station's history. The Heritage 33 palette takes inspiration from the classically elegant styling of the 1930s, drawing on details such as the dark herringbone flooring in Control Room A, which once powered a fifth of London's electricity and glazed tiles from the Power Station's Directors' staircase. The Heritage 47 palette is fresh and contemporary with an "industrial" aesthetic to demonstrate the pared-back style of the 1950s when the second part of Battersea Power Station was built.
Residents living in Switch House East also have direct access to two internal private landscaped courtyards and a rooftop garden with fantastic views of the Power Station and its iconic chimneys, allowing residents to experience the uniqueness of living at the London landmark.
Alex Michaelis, a partner, and co-founder of Michaelis Boyd said: "The residences have a refined industrial quality to them. We wanted to create interiors that would reference the Power Station's rich history but also stand the test of time, for the ultimate experience of modern city living."
He said the design for the two distinct interior palettes, Heritage 33 and 47, was inspired by the style and textures of the original 20th-century building. Grained wooden floors underfoot, exposed brick walls, and durable, tactile finishes emphasise materiality throughout and provide a timeless backdrop for evolving interior trends. Looking forward to 2022, Michaelis said there continues to be a focus on the importance of outdoor space and a connection with nature.
At Switch House East, large Crittall screens and dual aspect glazed windows were designed to make use of natural daylight, encouraging flow between spaces and offering views out onto the riverside and landscaped courtyards and terraces, bringing the outdoors in.
The open-plan layouts of these loft-style apartments also remain more relevant than ever, as we continue to design versatile spaces that will lend themselves to new ways of living, working, eating, and relaxing from home, he said.
The Battersea Power Station development is owned by a consortium of Malaysian investors comprising Sime Darby Property (40 per cent), S P Setia Berhad (40 per cent), and The Employees' Provident Fund (20 per cent), with the commercial assets within the Power Station building now being directly owned by Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) and EPF.
The 42-acre project includes 3.5 million sq ft of mixed commercial space, together with 4,239 new homes. It will see the creation of a vibrant, mixed-use destination offering a community of homes, shops, restaurants, offices, culture, and leisure venues, as well as 19 acres of public space, all serviced by an extension to the London Underground Northern Line.
Once completed, the mega-development will be one of the most exciting retail and leisure destinations in London, having recently announced that major international brands such as Ray-Ban, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, The Kooples, Aēsop, and Calvin Klein will be opening inside the iconic building.
The Power Station will also be home to over 100 shops, bars, and restaurants, 254 apartments, office space as well as unique events and leisure offerings, including the Chimney Lift Experience. There will also be a new six-acre riverfront park that is open to the public.
The retail and leisure experience will continue on a new high street, Electric Boulevard, which runs from the south of the Power Station, between the stunning Frank Gehry-designed Prospect Place and Foster + Partners' Battersea Roof Gardens. Electric Boulevard will offer a mix of office space, shops, bars and restaurants, a park, playground, and an exciting new 164 room hotel from art'otel®, the brand's first hotel to open in London.
