Barring Big Ben and Buckingham Palace, there are few more recognisable London landmarks than Battersea Power Station. From its original function, keeping the capital’s lights on, to Pink Floyd album covers, to Margaret Thatcher, and on into multiple failed regeneration schemes and ownerships, those four chimneys have had an enduring, iconic appeal.

 

And now, after decades of work, it is finally with us in its latest configuration, restored and renewed thanks to Simon Murphy’s Battersea Power Station Development Corporation, and a team including Wilkinson Eyre. Although it sits in an area with a mixed reception in terms of the developments further up Nine Elms, it has brought about a new tube station and acted to secure key tenants including Apple, offering this corner of London a new lease of bustling, contemporary life. Murphy kicks off our building review of the scheme this issue, while another project with ramifications for a new generation of offices, Fabrix’s Roots in the Sky, figures as our project preview.

 

We continue our celebration of the 10th anniversary of the London Olympics with a profile of ‘Mr Olympics’ Shaun Dawson, an ever-present figure from the bid process right the way through to today, celebrating 25 years at the Lea Valley Regional Park Authority and unveiling the next built projects on a successful legacy conveyor belt.

 

Another contributor to that legacy is Haptic Architects, which delivered an innovative car park now serving Here East, as well as some nascent schemes at King’s Cross and in Oslo. Louise Rodgers gets under the skin of the ‘Haptic Way’, discovering how its happy team continues to thrive and prosper in London and Norway.

 

There’s plenty more besides: a look at ergonomics in design; and Gensler taking us through the way it works in its new(ish) offices, and exporting expertise elsewhere. Peter Murray reviews a new book on the suburbs, we take a look at the enduring and often thorny subject of succession, and our 15 Expert Panels report on the progress they are making towards the New London Agenda, capped by an in-depth essay by cities expert Greg Clark.

 

The age of the ‘icon’ may be gone, but the multi-project, grand vista of the Olympics in the east and the revitalised chimneys of Battersea in the west present a snapshot of the New London emerging from its industrial past into a digital future. It is still powering ahead.

 

Enjoy the issue!

 

Editor

The new teams 12

Louise Rodgers gets under the skin of Haptic Architects 

Profile 34

David Taylor interviews ‘Mr Olympics’ — Shaun Dawson of the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority

Ecocity 44

Amy Chadwick-Till asks why we aren’t being more ambitious when it comes to urban nature

New London Agenda Special 50

Greg Clark outlines the New London Agenda; NLA Expert Panels reveal progress

Project preview 84

The team behind Roots in the Sky describe how the project is a ‘vehicle for change’

Building review 90

Power play — the new-look Battersea Power Station opens for business

 

Need to know 4

The quarter — our summary of all the key news events this term

Viewpoint 6

We ask: given LREF’s main theme, what is one way that London can ‘think beyond’?

Murray Mint 10

Peter Murray looks at the long-running debate over plans for suburban intensification 

Opinions 32 | 42

Blum’s Amanda Hughes on ergonomics and ageing; JRA’s Festus Moffat on wellness and Bloom

Columnist 66

Yolande Barnes charts the effects of good and bad governance on the city

Briefing notes 72

Our regular round-up of conferences and events at NLA

Coffee break 102

Grimshaw’s Kirsten Lees on the practice’s new Foundation, and more

My London 152

Heart of London Business Alliance’s Ros Morgan in praise of the West End

 

How we work 20

Gensler’s Nigel Lea on the firm’s London HQ — and practising what it preaches

From the team 24

NLA’s Benjamin O’Connor on the upcoming LREF and his own background in art and galleries

Succession 26

ING’s Leanne Tritton and RSHP’s Tracey Meller and John McElgunn address succession

Reviews 68

Peter Murray reviews two new books about Eric Parry and Robert Davis

Market essay 106

JLL’s Marcus Dixon takes a look at the prime residential market in London