Power at Battersea : understanding post-industrial Britain through an art deco monolith

Abstract

In the modern age, a building serves a purpose beyond that of its intended architectural function. This is especially true of famous buildings, which become important as icons independent of their physical presence. When a building reaches a certain level of fame, its symbolic significance shifts not only as a result of its programming, but as a result of its political, social, and cultural context. These buildings often long outlive their original purposes. When this occurs, architects strive to find a way to best honor that building's history in their redevelopment. This thesis explores the symbolic history of one building in particular, Battersea Power Station in London. Constructed in a long period from 1929-1955, Battersea entered the cityscape in controversy. In less than a century Battersea has gone from environmental demon to beloved architectural icon, from the symbol of a nation's vulnerabilities to the symbol of a nation's ability to oppress. Its meteoric rise to international visibility in the 1970s led to its depiction in countless works of film, television, and other artistic media, each with their own interpretation of the building's significance. The new millenium has brought with it the opportunity to redevelop Battersea. However, its current redevelopment has brought with it a controversy comparable to that which mired its construction nearly a century ago. In a key period since the early 20th century, Britain has seen its industrially-fuelled empire collapse and its international standing fall. The rise and fall of Battersea can help trace Britain's national anxieties over the course of this post-industrial age. In so doing, Battersea Power Station indicates the power that architecture has not only to signify its socio-political context, but to influence it as well.