[Music: Always Ascending – HAAi, John Hopkins, KAM-BU … so excited about this song (just released Nov 10, 2023!]
I’m all about the views- so I sought out the place that must logically deliver on the best views of Battersea Power Station. We stayed at the art’otel located across the way and a view delivered indeed. The hotel itself was a disappointment – hence no post on it, just it’s views.
While I love views of Battersea Power Station, this time, I was actually able to go inside as well. When I last went to visit construction was almost complete. I really liked it- but I would love to see part of it turn into a market hall- to be more day to day oriented.
I really wanted to stay in this neighborhood to experience what it might be like to live somewhere like this. A new development really considered from the ground up from an urban planning perspective. I wanted the views so I picked the hotel, but I would love to try again and see if there’s an apartment rental close by.
The proximity to the park was well enjoyed by me on morning runs. I don’t know where people would go to a normal grocery store, but the on they had there was akin to Rocky’s in Oakland- you know, the local, expensive and has great taste. Not a ton of transit options, so I guess there’s that- likely more to come considering all the other areas they are building up around there. The reason why I care about Battersea is not for the highly respectable reuse of existing infrastructure, but more so my favorite version of modern neighborhood (bougie I know).
It’s a very disciplined and clean design- it’s character being a bit more serious. The two sides of the station are actually quite different- this surprised me. In some parts of the building there is a ton of light, in others- really none except artificial. There is very little seating.
I liked how the navigation was integrated, but a little confusing at times- I get lost easily though.
Who knows what will come of this building 100 years from now. To think how this power plant worked, what it enabled at the height of it’s user makes me wonder how we will look back in another 100 years about what was constructed here in this day and age and how we will think about it then. We can be very brave, there is no doubt.
Address: Circus Rd W, Nine Elms, London SW11 8AL, United Kingdom
Website: Wilkinson Eyre write up
ofallthespaces 