With more switches and dials than a hipster’s coffee machine, Battersea Power Station has unveiled the fully restored Control Room A.
The room is the first of the Grade II* listed building’s two original control rooms, which managed the distribution of electricity across London from the early 1930s until 1975.
Control Room A was the power station’s original control room, sending electricity across the capital from Carnaby Street to Wimbledon, and even powering parliament.
The room, which looks like something out of a classic episode of Doctor Who, has also appeared in a number of films, including The King’s Speech and Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life.
Battersea Power Station worked with Historic England, Wandsworth Council, lead architect WilkinsonEyre and Lucas UK on the restoration of Control Room A, which is set to become an events space when the building opens to the public this autumn.
Simon Murphy, chief executive of the Battersea Power Station Development Company, said: “The unveiling of our completely restored Control Room A is another pivotal moment in the regeneration of this iconic Grade II* listed building. It has been a key objective to bring these historic areas back to life, whilst remaining true to their original forms. We are looking forward to bringing a new purpose to this piece of London’s history upon our opening this autumn and to showing the public all of the incredibly detailed restoration work undertaken over the past decade to open this landmark up for all.”
WilkinsonEyre’s Chris Davies added: “Following the years of careful conservation and repair, the high-quality original finishes and fittings remain the defining features of this dramatic centrepiece at the heart of the Power Station. With its glowing dials reflecting the locations to which the station distributed electricity back in the 1930s, and restored glass ceiling, the former nerve centre can be revealed in its full glory.”
The restored room will sit at the centre of the £9bn regeneration project, which covers 42 acres in total and includes 3.5m sq ft of commercial space and 4,239 homes. The restored power station forms the second phase of the development and will contain more than 100 shops and 254 flats.
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