London's Battersea Power Station?

Yes. It looks like a cow made out of leggo that has died.

Come on chaps, this is an iconic building designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, who amongst other things designed the classic red 'phone box and Liverpool cathedral. Power stations today would not get many votes!

Nic

Went there on a school trip probably 30 years ago. A remarkable building with for a kid an awesome sense of scale the memory of which lingers to this day. When I am in the City on business I always pass it in the train and get a gentle reminder of those gentler days (rose tinted glasses and all that).

So much has changed from the SW London skyline, it would be a shame to lose this icon, even it is redundant and no longer fit for purpose. Still, they shoot horses don't they?

THe land it occupies is clearly going to waste. They should knock it down and knock up a few hundred flats selling at 300k a piece forthwith.

Have they started doing anything to refurbrish it yet? I was in London 10 years ago and got a good view of it everytime I took the train. It was a very depressing looking building. I can't believe they would just let it rot away like that in the heart of London.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/0...r_station/html/1.stm

quote:

knock up a few hundred flats selling at 300k a piece forthwith.

What cheap housing? You'll be lucky to get a garage for that!

I'll be surprised it isn't now a listed building.

Personally I think it's a fantastic building which has sadly gone into disrepair due to a botched attempt by a Thatherite to turn it into a leisure facillity. The removal of the roof has caused more problems.

It would be good if something was done to turn it into a world leading leisure centre as opposed to even more expensive housing.

Something needs doing to it earlier rather than later before it does just fall down of its own accord.

Steve.

I think its a fantastic building.

Do cows normally roll on to their backs and stick their legs in the air when they die?

(On a point of pedantry, m'lud)

quote:

Originally posted by JonR:
Do cows normally roll on to their backs and stick their legs in the air when they die?

(On a point of pedantry, m'lud)

They roll onto one side so two legs stick out horizontal. As it bloats these legs can rise a bit.

Willy.

I love it - it should stay!! Did you know you could drive a double-decker red bus along the inside of one chimney towers? Why you should want to mind......

Useless information - but true.
The red buses should stay too

Hello a529612,

On the Naim Forum, I would think that, overall, you're probably onto a loser suggesting the demolition of Battersea Power Station. viz...



James

It's even better on the inside!

The british equivalent of the Eiffel Tower, I say!

If I remember correctly, BPS has the honour of being the largest building made out of individual bricks (rather than anything cast or pre-formed). I used to pass it regularly before it fell into disrepair, and still think it's a rather fine structure.

Gets two thumbs up from me too - I saw it relatively close-hand from a double decker last time I was in London and it's an amazing structure - even now.

Mind you, I liked Plymouth's old Drake Circus car park, the Tricorn Centre, and the Trellick Tower, so what do I know??

quote:

Originally posted by JonR:
Do cows normally roll on to their backs and stick their legs in the air when they die?

(On a point of pedantry, m'lud)

Yep. Of course very few cows die from natural causes so it is a rare sight. When they die they roll onto their backs, let out the death fart, (this can last for up to 30 mins) then their legs go rigid with rigor. After rigor mortis the legs lower themselves again.

A few days later Willy's bloating thing takes over as the guts begin to rot and cause gases to swell the stomachs this causes the legs to straighten exactly pararell to each other where they remain for some time. In the Lake District Park Wardens set up table tops on the cows legs so walkers can stop and eat their picnics.

quote:

Originally posted by erik scothron:

quote:

Originally posted by JonR:
Do cows normally roll on to their backs and stick their legs in the air when they die?

(On a point of pedantry, m'lud)

In the Lake District Park Wardens set up table tops on the cows legs so walkers can stop and eat their picnics.

Erik,

Top comment. Still laughing now.

Nic

quote:

Originally posted by domfjbrown:

Mind you, I liked Plymouth's old Drake Circus car park, the Tricorn Centre, and the Trellick Tower, so what do I know??

domfjbrown,

Obviously a bit of a fan of "Brutalist" architecture then. Trellick Tower by Erno Goldfinger, is now an extremely sought after address, with prices to match.

During my first year, I contacted Owen Luder, the architect of both the Tricorn Centre and the multi storey in Gatehead (universally known as the Get Carter car park) about some coursework on the car park.

I have to say he was a real gentleman, and extremely helpful. He gave some fascinating insights behind the designs, and his own architectural influences.

Having previously hated the building, I now find I have rather a soft spot for it. Here is a picture, as you are clearly a fan.

Regards

Nic

He he he - I was going to mention the Gateshead carpark as well...

It's just something about those bold and functional designs that I really like. Sometimes I wish I'd actually done architecture as the number of buildings I've been in where some dimwit's blatantly designed it poorly is just ludicrous - I'm sure I could do better than that sometimes.

Too late for a career change?

BTW - I like the Gherkin as well...

quote:

BTW - I like the Gherkin as well...

Great view from the top, especially of 'planes going into land at City Airport.

guys, some more useless information for you all,
i used to be a steeplejack and have painted all four stacks several times and on a windy day its not a lot of fun being blown around in a bosuns chair BUT i must say i for one quite like the old girl and i think im right in saying that it is a listed building. one of the unusual and useful things about this building is the fact that its used as a landmark by pilots coming into heathrow airport. one pilot was heard to say to air traffic control "pigs do actually fly" - ( animals / pink floyd promotion shoot ) when the pig baloon broke free from its moorings between the stacks!!
i can assure you all that it is also a stunning view of london from the top of one of those stacks and maybe they could build an observation point for tourists when completed.
( just an idea )
regards, scotty

p.s.
you can actually get 2 double decker buses side by dide and still drop them down the inside of each stack!!
they are huge! dont know what would be worse falling down the ( tunnel like ) inside or falling down the outside.
incidentally from memory i think its about 300 feet to the roof from ground level then another 200 feet approx from roof to top of stacks!!
so quite tall BUT not the tallest chimneys ive worked on, the isle of grain power station in kent which is over 800 feet tall and on a clear day you can see the coast of france! SUPERB !!
scotty

Guess you'd find this ugly too:
Tate Modern

...and wait 'til you see what they're planning on doing to it!