Battersea Power Station London, UK: External glazing made by seele

5,746sqm

heritage windows

264sqm

juliet balconies

384sqm

shop fronts

78

doors

exclusive glazing for heritage-protected battersea power station in london

Battersea Power Station, a former coal-fired plant, is located on the south bank of the River Thames in southwest central London. This colossal brick structure with its four enormous chimneys is a outstanding landmark. It is protected by a conservation order and was turned into a 186,000sqm complex with shops, restaurants, a private club, apartments, offices and event locations as part of a revitalisation project.
seele was responsible for various façades in phase 2 of the project. Heritage conservation stipulations were the priority for the steel windows. Some 2,000 “heritage window” elements, a total area of 5,746sqm, have been ordered. Their design matches that of the original windows dating from 1930. In addition, seele supplied 264sqm of Juliet balconies and two panoramic windows measuring 4 x 3m which allow a magnificent view over the Thames.

The glass shop fronts (384sqm) and 78 doors (659sqm) represented a particular challenge in terms of the heritage conservation requirements. The folding doors have steel frames and sheet metal parts and are distinctive because of their laser-cut details. A feature of the doors is the handmade blown glasses, produced in a wide variety of colours by a pontifical stained glass studio, which were glued to the insulating glass panes.
The entire external appearance of the “heritage windows” in combination with the brickwork creates a new London landmark.

Header image and reference overview: © Peter Landers

Heritage conservation

This iconic former power station is one of the largest brick-built structures in Europe. Features such as the four ivory-coloured chimneys, the former control room or the original windows are rich in history and have been taken into account in the redevelopment plans. When it comes to the “heritage windows”, the conservation requirements represent, on the one hand, an opportunity: Quality features such as the existing brickwork are underscored by the new window frames. On the other hand, the stipulations did signify a certain challenge for design and construction. Technical details had to be changed at short notice as the initial designs did not suit the existing structure.
The logistics involved with deliveries to central London, with narrow streets and limited space on this large building site, was another complex issue. In order to speed up installation, the window elements were supplied fully glazed.

Factory-glazed window elements arriving at seele’s storage yard on the site (approx. 300sqm). © seele

Window design from the 1930s: The new frames had to match the historical concept. © seele

Installing one of the five elements for a window measuring 1.6 x 17m. © seele

Credits

Client	Battersea Power Station Development Company
Main contractor	Mace Ltd.
Architect	Wilkinson Eyre
Date of completion	2022
Scope of work by seele	5,746sqm “heritage windows” (insulating glass) 264sqm Juliet balconies (insulating glass) 2 pcs. panoramic windows (4 x 3m, insulating glass) 384sqm shop fronts (insulating glass) 78 doors (659sqm insulating glass)