Battersea Power Station is one of London's best-loved landmarks.
Transforming a London landmark —
Battersea Power Station is one of London's best-loved landmarks.
Courtesy of Bethany Clarke/Getty Images
Built in the Thirties, when this shot was taken, as a functional coal-fired power station, its distinctive design has made it famous around the world. The other two towers were not added until 1953, forming the familiar four-chimneyed silhouette.
Transforming a London landmark —
Built in the Thirties, when this shot was taken, as a functional coal-fired power station, its distinctive design has made it famous around the world. The other two towers were not added until 1953, forming the familiar four-chimneyed silhouette.
Fox Photos/Getty Images
The station stopped generating electricity in 1983, and has since become one of architecture's best-known white elephants.
Transforming a London landmark —
The station stopped generating electricity in 1983, and has since become one of architecture's best-known white elephants.
Oli Scarff/Getty Images
Taken in 1976, an inflatable pig was tied to one of the southern chimneys for Pink Floyd's 'Animals' album. The image secured worldwide fame for the station.
Transforming a London landmark —
Taken in 1976, an inflatable pig was tied to one of the southern chimneys for Pink Floyd's 'Animals' album. The image secured worldwide fame for the station.
Courtesy of Alamy/Jeff Morgan/Pink Floyd
An inflatable pig flies over the station 35 years later, recreating the famous album cover on September 26, 2011.
Transforming a London landmark —
An inflatable pig flies over the station 35 years later, recreating the famous album cover on September 26, 2011.
Courtesy of Oli Scarff/Getty Images
Questions have also been asked about whether the building will be obscured by the new, modernist blocks that are planned to surround it.
Transforming a London landmark —
Questions have also been asked about whether the building will be obscured by the new, modernist blocks that are planned to surround it.
Courtesy Battersea Power Station Development Company
Alternative plans for the building, like this one by the pre-eminent architect Terry Farrell, envisaged preserving it as a more public space. In this computer-generated projection, the building is maintained in a 'ruined' form, with a landscaped park, open to all, constructed inside. Farrell described the current development as "sad".
Transforming a London landmark —
Alternative plans for the building, like this one by the pre-eminent architect Terry Farrell, envisaged preserving it as a more public space. In this computer-generated projection, the building is maintained in a 'ruined' form, with a landscaped park, open to all, constructed inside. Farrell described the current development as "sad".
Courtesy Farrells
The chimneys will be torn down, but then they will be reconstructed according to the original specifications. However, the idea of destroying the chimneys has aroused intense controversy, with Londoners fearing that a piece of their heritage will be lost.
Transforming a London landmark —
The chimneys will be torn down, but then they will be reconstructed according to the original specifications. However, the idea of destroying the chimneys has aroused intense controversy, with Londoners fearing that a piece of their heritage will be lost.
Courtesy of Oli Scarff/Getty Images
But years of coal smoke damage have damaged the structures, making them unsafe.
Transforming a London landmark —
But years of coal smoke damage have damaged the structures, making them unsafe.
Courtesy Battersea Power Station Development Company
In the opening ceremony for the 2012 Olympics in London, Battersea Power Station was included as one of the city's seven most iconic buildings. This model, used in the ceremony, now stands in the grounds of the building.
Transforming a London landmark —
In the opening ceremony for the 2012 Olympics in London, Battersea Power Station was included as one of the city's seven most iconic buildings. This model, used in the ceremony, now stands in the grounds of the building.
Courtesy Jake Wallis Simons
Construction, based on models like this one, is due to be completed by 2020.
Transforming a London landmark —
Construction, based on models like this one, is due to be completed by 2020.
Courtesy Jake Wallis Simons
Despite the ongoing controversy, the redevelopment of the station has stirred excitement. To celebrate the building's redevelopment, The Battersea Power Station Development Company launched an annual party in April 2014.
Transforming a London landmark —
Despite the ongoing controversy, the redevelopment of the station has stirred excitement. To celebrate the building's redevelopment, The Battersea Power Station Development Company launched an annual party in April 2014.
Courtesy of Neil P. Mockford/Getty Images for Battersea Power Station