KCR Summer 2024 Magazine FINAL 1 - Flipbook - Page 22
Powerhouse
Transforming the Lots Road Power Station
As the building once responsible for electrifying London9s
railways begins its new chapter, the storied history of this
iconic landmark is told for the orst time.
Once heralded as the 8cathedral of the industrial age9, the power station9s
legacy of public service is key to the reimagining of this London landmark into a modern-day icon. When fully completed, this post-modernist masterpiece with a compelling history will enjoy a resplendent future
as London9s most reoned and exclusive residential address, overlooking
the River Thames.
Interiors. Meticulously chosen for their reputation for incorporating historical design features and references to create modern signature residences, Fiona Barratt Interiors honours the Powerhouse9s rich industrial
heritage and preserves its place in architectural lore. Combining modern
elements with unique points of historical interest, full-height evergreen
trees have been purposefully placed where the building9s turbines once
stood, whilst nowing water troughs echo the creation of steam and two
industrial chimneys anchor either end of the space. Powerhouse9s entrance also features a spectacular 8electric current9 lighting installation framed by the building9s vast elegant arched windows - representing the
original purpose of the building: the generation of power.
Once the driving force behind the rapid expansion of modern London,
Lots Road power station was the world9s most expensive power station
ever built, and the largest generator of electricity. Completed in 1905 for
the purpose of powering London9s network of underground railways, it
became the largest power station in the world, and within thirty years it
was providing power to the entire London Underground network, plus
miles of tramlines.
Powerhouse9s 100-metre atrium, designed to replicate an intimate
mews-style street, is a key example of how the building has been purposefully designed to prioritise the public, rejuvenating this previously
residential corner of Chelsea into a hub of commerce and activity. The
atrium will incorporate retail units, restaurants, and leisure spaces, acting as a bridge into the Lots Road village community and surrounding
conservation area.
Lots Road power station was the orst steel-framed building in the
British Isles, often described as the 8design grandfather9 of Battersea
power station. As part of the original build, four 275 ft. chimneys were
constructed, designed to direct the smoke and gas away from the power
station9s coal boilers and clear the surrounding residential homes. The
two taller chimneys have been retained and repaired as part of the
refurbishment of the power station, with access ways created through
the lowest level of the chimneys, linking the inner courtyard to bridges
across Chelsea Creek. Despite not being a listed building, the power
station represents an important symbol of the industrial era, and the
remaining historic elements of the building have been painstakingly
preserved and incorporated into the new development, including original archways, steelwork, and brickwork.
Boasting a plethora of state-of-the-art amenities, Powerhouse will be
professionally managed by a concierge with 5-star, around the clock
services, from general house management to individual booking requests. The exclusive wellness centre, housing a fully equipped gym, and
a 20-metre swimming pool, ofers a private sanctuary for exercise and
relaxation, while the elegantly appointed Residents9 Club Lounge, with
its delightful views of the river, is the ideal multi-purpose space for work
or social gatherings. For those seeking superb cuisine served in stylish
surroundings, the signature waterside restaurant at Chelsea Waterfront,
boasting unforgettable vistas across the river, plus beautifully lit landscaped gardens will be the orst port of call.
During the Second World War, the building continued to power the
Underground network, enabling tube trains to run whilst London
sufered power cuts through bombing. It is believed that the windows on
the Thames side of the power station were bricked up during this time,
as a way of minimising potential bomb damage. A series of six posters
of the power station were commissioned by London Transport in 1944,
celebrating the power station9s contribution to the war and London9s
survival of the Blitz.
Whilst continuously powering the London Underground for nearly a
century, in the 1960s the power station was converted from coal burning
to heavy fuel oil, with a further conversion to gas occurring in the 1970s.
The conversions resulted in several visible changes being made to the
building, most notably, the lowering of one of the four chimneys to roof
level. Eventually, ten years later, a second chimney was removed to give
the building a more coherent look, which completed the modern appearance of the power station that we are familiar with today.
A further contribution to London life came in the 1970s. Following
complications with LBC and Capital Radio9s antenna towers, the power
station extended its innuence by facilitating the installation of an
improvised antenna suspended between its twin chimneys, allowing the
stations to broadcast across the UK.
Although by 1985 the National Grid was a more cost-efective way of
operating the Underground, the generators at Lots Road were retained
as back-up, until the ageing machinery came to the end of its lifespan in
2002.
A New Era
Dr Edmond Ho, Director & General Manager of Hutchison Property
Group (UK) Limited, said:
