Battersea Power Station – From Industry to Leisure




Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-63234124.amp

My first lecture of my Global Cultures MA discussed the pattern of the industrial sites of the past becoming sites of leisure in the contemporary age. These sites are most typically used for educational purposes, as they offer their visitors an insight into working-class history and the most important industries of the past. Yet in last week’s news, we saw the re-opening of Battersea Power Station. Located on the south bank of the Thames, the coal-fired power station which once produced a fifth of all London’s power has now re-opened on 14th October as a giant shopping centre. Boasting brands such as Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger and Aesop, shoppers can access a plethora of high-end brands and other dining and leisure opportunities. 

 

The ten-year process of the transformation of an abandoned power station into a super-shopping centre indicates that the innovations taking place within the capital and nationwide are reflecting the dominant pastimes of the British middle classes. Battersea’s industrial past has been renovated to suit its new inhabitants. As gentrification tightens its grip on many of London’s boroughs, leisure time increasingly involves spending and curated luxury experiences. 


Source: https://secretldn.com/battersea-power-station-shopping-centre/


The developers of this project have kept the exterior of the factory in its original condition. One of the new refurbishments of the building is Lift 109. Here, one of the iconic chimneys now houses a glass elevator, in which visitors can discover the history of the building before arriving at the top to see a vast panoramic view of the city. The location and history of the site of this new innovation reflect the sentiments of much of Richard Florida’s concepts around the city itself and how this influences such creative projects. In Florida’s The City as Innovation Machine, he argues the importance of place and suggests that the city itself is the key mechanism enabling such innovations to happen (Florida. 2017). Florida describes the city itself as 'the ultimate enabler of innovation, entrepreneurship, and growth‘ (Florida. 2017. p. 91). Here, the location of Battersea Power Station and the significance of its industrial past hosts a venue with a historical edge. The renovation of the abandoned site provides new leisure opportunities whilst also preserving the original structure and history of the building.


Source: https://lift109.co.uk

Florida’s concept of the location itself being the driving force of innovation certainly rings true in the case of this development. Battersea Power Station has proven immensely popular since its recent opening, receiving over 250,000 visitors on its opening. The site itself is attracting visitors due to its historical significance and its pairing with shopping and dining opportunities. 

 

After many decades of abandonment, the power station has been refurbished into a vibrant leisure hub. Yet the shift from industry to oftentimes luxury leisure past times illuminates the ever-changing ways in which the public chooses to spend both time and money. The renovation suggests changes in social class in the area, and the introduction of a luxury shopping facility reveals that leisure activities are increasing in price, and the consumer progressively requires bespoke leisure activities. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bibliography

 

Florida, R., Adler, P., and Mellander. C. 2017. The City as Innovation Machine. Regional Studies, 51.1, pp. 86-96. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2016.1255324[Accessed 23rd October 2022]

 

Shearsmith, T. 2022 More than 250,000 visit Battersea Power Station during opening weekend Available at: <https://www.theindustry.fashion/more-than-250000-visit-battersea-power-station-in-opening-weekend/> [Accessed 23rd October 2022]

 

The History, Battersea Power Station (2022). Available at: <https://batterseapowerstation.co.uk/about/heritage-history/> [Accessed 23rd October 2022]

 

Website Homepage (2022) Lift 109  Available at: <https://lift109.co.uk> [Accessed 23rd October 2022]

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