Frank Gehry’s first UK residential project opens at Battersea Power Station
As Prospect Place at Battersea Power Station opens its doors, we discover the design by Gehry Partners
Taran Wilkhu - Photography
Frank Gehry’s first residential buildings in the UK, Prospect Place at London’s Battersea Power Station, have welcomed their first occupants. The two buildings comprise a total of 308 homes, marking the completion of part of the Battersea Power Station regeneration project ahead of its opening to the public in September 2022.
The homes are a combination of studios, apartments, four-bedroom townhouses and penthouses. While all have a unique design, they subscribe to common codes, including an emphasis on spacious, open-plan living and access to outside space, whether a garden or a terrace.
Two colour palettes chosen by Gehry Partners define the new living quarters. The ‘London’ palette nods to the history of the building, reflecting its industrial past with metal finishes and rich textures, while lighter hues prevail in the ‘LA’ palette encompassing pale woods and warmer tones.
‘I love London,’ says Gehry Partners’ founder Frank Gehry. ‘It has culture, history and diversity and the buildings we have created at Battersea Power Station are designed to stand artfully on their own amongst all of that, whilst also framing an internationally recognised icon. It is important we create social places for future generations and our goal from the start has been to create a neighbourhood that connects to the historic fabric of the city of London but also has its own identity and integrity.’
Residents will also be able to access the amenities of the neighbouring Battersea Roof Gardens. Designed by Foster + Partners, these apartments come equipped with rooftop gardens designed by James Corner of Field Operations, workspaces, a cinema and a gym. High street Electric Boulevard, Prospect Park and a children’s playground round out the neighbourhood facilities.
‘Frank Gehry and his team have gone above and beyond in the delivery of world-class buildings at Prospect Place,’ says chief executive officer at Battersea Power Station Development Company, Simon Murphy. ‘It is an honour that Frank’s first UK residential project is at Battersea Power Station and its completion marks an important milestone in the development. When we first designed the masterplan, we envisioned a thriving community where people can live, work and play, and with every milestone achieved, we are ever closer to making that vision a reality, particularly as we prepare to open the Power Station to the public from September.’
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Hannah Silver is the Art, Culture, Watches & Jewellery Editor of Wallpaper*. Since joining in 2019, she has overseen offbeat art trends and conducted in-depth profiles, as well as writing and commissioning extensively across the worlds of culture and luxury. She enjoys travelling, visiting artists' studios and viewing exhibitions around the world, and has interviewed artists and designers including Maggi Hambling, William Kentridge, Jonathan Anderson, Chantal Joffe, Lubaina Himid, Tilda Swinton and Mickalene Thomas.
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