Book TourIt is also a popular place for tourists because it has featured many times in popular culture. From appearing on the cover of Pink Floyd’s ‘Animals’ album in 1977 to the interior and exterior being used as a location for many films including: Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Sabotage’ (1936), ‘Children of Men’ (2006), and Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Dark Knight’ (2008). It has also been used several times in the BBC television series ‘Doctor Who’ and the opening sequence of David Suchet's ‘Agatha Christie’s Poirot’ featuring the Art Deco architecture of the A station.
Battersea Power Station London Private Guided Tours
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The original glorious building that is Battersea Power Station was completed in 1934 and designed by Giles Gilbert Scott, and the Manchester firm Halliday and Agate. Built originally as a power station, it is however no longer used for that purpose. The area has recently undergone massive redevelopment and is fast becoming one of London’s most exciting and innovative areas to visit and live.
The Chimney Lift gives visitors a brethtaking 360° view of London from the top of the North West chimney—tickets should be booked in advance.
Art Deco Architecture
Battersea Power Station was built during the Art Deco movement and Station A is testament to that fact. The overall aesthetic of the building is attributed to Sir Giles Gilbert Scott who was brought into the venture to soothe over the objections that many had to the building. He argued that public buildings should be seen and not hidden away. Scott particularly worked on finessing the large chimneys that were so vital to the running of the power station as well as treating the great brick walls. To these he added ‘jazz modern’ fluting which give the building its iconic Art Deco look. The interiors were treated with the same reverence with the control room being panelled out with Italian marble and polished hardwood parquet flooring. In fact the interiors were so sumptuous in some places that workers were required to put on felt overshoes to protect the beautiful design.
It comes as no surprise that the building today has a Grade II listed status. Despite this, an extensive redevelopment into a modern residential, entertainment, retail and business complex has been undertaken along with a brand new underground station. However, the look of the station, particularly the Art Deco designed A Station and the four iconic towers have been retained. Inside much of the style is clearly influenced by the designs of Halliday and Scott but the current architects have infused the Art Deco history with a modern 21st Century feel. All in all it is a stunning place to visit.
Shopping
Much effort has been made to incorporate the new shops into the structure of the building, applying great care and thought to retaining the art deco and industrial feel of the development. You'll find exciting retail outlets on three floors in the Power Station as well as outside on Electric Boulevard. Shops at Battersea include Zara, Nike, Abercrombie & Fitch and Superdry.
