London

BATTERSEA REACH
 
Country: UK, England
Location: London
Purpose: residential space
Main Contractor: St George South London Ltd
Architect: Broadway Malyan
Our contribution:  Performing static, fabrication and site project curtain walls.
Complete:  2014 - 2015

Battersea is an area in the south west London, inside of Wandsworth district, on the south bank of the River Thames. Before the World War II the construction of Battersea Power Station has begun, the first this large coal-fired power plant in the UK, the building was constructed in two stages. The first (Block A) with a steam turbine hall and two chimneys at the end of each was completed in 1939. The second part was added in the years 1953-1955 (Block B). Due to the unprofitability of production, block A was closed in 1975, and the block B was closed in 1983. In 1980, the Battersea power plant was declared a Great Britain national heritage.   

PROJECT
With the closure of the power plant, a number of revitalization projects were created. The competition was won by the developer Parkview International. The building was to be converted into a hotel, restaurants, cinemas, theaters and apartments. Project also included modernization of the nearby Battersea Park train station. In November 2006, the Irish company Real Estate Opportunities bought the power plant and the surrounding area for £ 400 million. Decades after the collapse of local large-scale industry, the demand among high-income people for real estate located outside the city center, on the river, near planned metro stations, has been revived. This has led to Battersea becoming a site of gigantic housing investments. Factories were demolished and replaced with modern residential buildings. Located near the railway line the Battersea became a one big construction site, where fashionable housing estates and exclusive villas as well as new public and commercial investments built around them began to appear.   

BATTERSEA REACH
In 2014, construction began on Battersea Reach, a multi-purpose waterfront development that transformed the once largest industrial estate in London into a new and vibrant urban district. The investment consists of 1,300 apartments distributed in 14 separate buildings and is built in several stages. The buildings are positioned in order to maximize the view on the river. Off the riverside slopes with marine elements, wooden piers with railing-styled balustrades, etc. give the buildings a sea-like flavor reminiscent of cruise ships, while providing large terraces for many apartments. Many shopping and service centers have been built in the new district to meet the needs of its new residents. Many traditional pubs have turned into trendy bistros, new restaurants, gyms and a business center have also been opened. The surroundings are characterized by a rich diversity of vegetation and a unique design of tidal plantings in which native plant species are grown. 
Battersea Reach transformed a derelict brownfield site on the banks of the River Thames into a vibrant new urban district. The center of the Battersea Reach is a 17-storey building with residential apartments and approximately 30,000 square meters of retail space, including offices, shops, restaurants and bars. The complex has become an impressive landmark offering panoramic views of the Thames, while a 300-meter riverside landscaped path and award-winning gardens add to the Battersea Reach's aesthetic, making it synonymous with London's new middle-class lifestyle.