Issue 36 2023 - Journal - Page 13
highly skilled bricklayers to pick and mix from these
batches in order to seamlessly blend our modern works
in to the existing historical building fabric. Our scope of
works grew significantly from when we started on-site,
from internal to external including the supply and installation of new brick-faced precast lintels to the east elevation of Switch House East. These were conceptualized
and designed by our in-house design team to not only
match the original but to apply modern construction
techniques to their installation providing a buildable
solution that complies with current regulations and
matches the original construction visually.
supplier Boston Valley Terracotta to design, manufacture
and install over 15,000 individually scheduled bespoke
new faience tiles to replace existing ones that were too
badly damaged to repair. Other areas were restored
using in situ mortar repairs where we were asked to provide “honest” repairs so the history of the working Power
Station was clearly evident in the re-purposed structure
for modern retail, commercial and residential use. In addition, 90% of all the original faience tiles were carefully
pinned back to the substate with either 2 or 4 stainless
steel dry-fix pins to provide a solution to the change of
use from an industrial premises to a public retail space.
We created 15 new openings between Turbine Hall A
and the Boiler House and adapted 13 steel beam supported openings between the Boiler House and Turbine
Hall B, which was built in the 1950s and has a more
pared back, industrial design. These substantial openings
were introduced to allow light to flood into the new retail
areas and have an almost-classical regularity. Both have
required the design and installation of various shaped
and sized new steelworks. We worked closely with Buro
Happold, the appointed structural engineers, to ensure
the design and delivery of these important new openings
can withstand the enormous stresses and loadings required at BPS. Once all the structural works were completed our team of bricklayers, masons and restorers
provided the finishing touches to Client’s and Architect’s
approval.
Control Room A, which sits in the upper section of the
switchgear house overlooking Turbine Hall A, retains
nearly all of its original features including a gold painted
coffered glass ceiling and banks of control panels; It is
now a unique events space. Our teams restored, repaired
and cleaned the cream Italian marble (Lunel Rubane)
lining the walls and the decorative black marble trimmings surrounding the room. Access to the space is via
the Director’s Entrance and staircase, which we also restored, cleaning and repairing the marble lined walls,
cleaning and repairing the decorative marble floor, the
terrazzo stairs and installing a marble fireplace as a replica
to a historic one that had disappeared over the course of
time. We also restored the interior of Control Room B,
now a lively 1960s inspired all-day bar managed by Inception Group, cleaning and repairing the faience clad
walls and terrazzo flooring.
The interiors of the Turbine Halls are largely clad in
faience tiles. We worked closely with the Client, Battersea Power Station Development Company, Wilkinson
Eyre lead architect on the project and our US faience
Having such a long relationship with Battersea Power
Station, first working there in 1986, it is truly inspiring
to play a significant part in its restoration.
Above, Batterea Power Station during rennovation - credit Tom St Aubyn
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Conservation & Heritage Journal
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