POWERHOUSE COMPLETES MARKING A NEW ERA FOR LUXURY LIVING IN CHELSEA
A London Landmark Redefined
Chelsea Waterfront’s Powerhouse, the historic twin-turreted power station that once powered the London Underground, has been meticulously reimagined, blending heritage with 21st-century luxury living. Powerhouse, once the city’s largest power station upon its completion in 1905, now stands at the heart of the borough’s most significant redevelopment project.
This completion milestone marks the end of a 15-year journey involving the relocation of 2 million bricks. This massive feat of engineering required the expertise of 60 workers focused on the removal and restoration of the bricks alone – a process that took six years in total. This culmination of time, craftsmanship and skill has resulted in this striking addition to one of London’s most distinguished neighbourhoods.
Nestled in the heart of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the Powerhouse is the jewel in the crown of the Chelsea Waterfront development. Transformed by award-winning Farrells –this exclusive enclave, set amidst landscaped gardens and connected by contemporary bridges that have opened up public pathways for the first time in a century, offers a rare blend of history and modernity. Featuring 260 apartments with breathtaking views of the Thames, the Powerhouse stands as a symbol of refined living, where heritage meets innovation.
Design excellence: Designer Fiona Barratt-Campbell’s impressive atrium and concierges and show spaces from BAYA – BLOCC Interiors first project under new luxury brand.
The interiors of the Powerhouse have been curated to match the grandeur of its architectural legacy.
Showcasing the interior design prowess at Powerhouse, award-winning designer Fiona Barratt-Campbell’s designs have transformed the vast interior of the turbine hall into a beautiful atrium, book-ended by two concierges. Her luxury design is filled with the history of the site, its industrial nature and the craftsmanship of the building.
A masterpiece that features towering evergreen trees now standing in the spots once occupied by the building’s turbines, while water troughs flow through the central space, symbolising the creation of steam. Suspended above, an extraordinary lighting installation resembling an ‘electrical current’ pays homage to the building’s original purpose: generating power.
Powerhouse offers a range of high-quality amenities to complement the lifestyle of its residents. The 24-hour concierges ensure a lifestyle of ease from the moment residents arrive, designed by Fiona Barratt-Campbell, they ensure a luxury yet comforting welcome to all who pass through. Examples of design excellence include the solid granite desk, inspired by the coal that was once the building’s primary power generating source and the flora light that takes its inspiration from the elegant long stem of a flower, with the soft texture of the bubble glass gently glowing connecting the exterior landscape bringing it inside.
The Powerhouse’s two chimneys stand at approximately 275 feet (84 meters) tall. These iconic towers were an integral part of the original power station, which played a key role in powering the London Underground system for much of the 20th century. Their preservation and restoration have been central to the redevelopment project.
Designed to be open at their bases, visitors can walk inside and look up to the elements streaming through the vertical shafts. Positioned at the East and West end of the building, each chimney is connected to the development by new pedestrian and cycle bridges across creek. The remaining two chimneys, which are now integrated in Barratt’s atrium design, have been transformed into unique retail units.
The Powerhouse apartments have been designed by a carefully selected curation of designers, including Morpheus & Co. and a debut from BLOCC Interior’s new luxury design studio, BAYA. The designs form an exclusive series of elegant showroom apartments, showcasing the epitome of sophisticated living.
BAYA, named after a colonial bird, known for its elaborate woven nests, transformed two four-bedroom apartments that resonate with this landmark’s rich history, with one sold before it was launched to market. Inspired by Europe’s largest atrium’s graceful original arches, BAYA incorporated contemporary curves and used a colour palette that echoes the building’s industrial past.
Luxury retail and hospitality brands
The development is not just a residential sanctuary; it also offers high-end retail spaces, catering to the demands of the discerning Chelsea clientele. Featuring 40,000 sq. ft of prime retail space, including a special collection of approximately 20 impressively sized retail units and one flagship restaurant, the location provides a high-footfall area with strong residential trade and conveniently located in Chelsea’s design district and close proximity to Imperial Wharf station.
Incoming retail brands will enjoy the grand entrance of Powerhouse that leads into a breathtaking atrium filled with natural light, in the centre of Fiona Barratt-Campbell’s impressive designs, making it an attractive offer to customers.
From its origins as a vital part of London’s infrastructure, to its rebirth as a beacon of luxury living, the Powerhouse represents a transformation that respects its past while embracing the future. Powerhouse is the cornerstone of Chelsea Waterfront, an impressive development featuring two glass towers of 37 and 25 stories, and three riverside buildings set around an abundance of landscaped gardens, designed by Randle Siddeley.
Further information – Chelsea Waterfront | FBC London | BAYA