17 September 2010

Battersea Power Station

Oh, you pretty thing.

Last week I went on an extremely last minute trip to London, and I spent my time soaking in the culture of this grand old city, trying to see the little touristy bits here and there that I have missed on past trips. I was having a splendid time, that is, until I got a bit tipsy in Brighton on my final day and lost my camera. Inside was a memory card with 3 days worth of photos on it. :(

The photos I am saddest about losing are the 50+ I took of the Battersea Power Station.

I first saw a photo of this 1930's era abandoned coal burning plant in a Lonely Planet and chills went up my spine - I knew I had to see it in person. I took the tube to Pimlico station to stand across the Thames from this wonderfully monstrous building - it was well worth the trip. The building filled me with one part horror and one part awe - it is an unimaginably huge monolith and even from a distance it took up the whole sky and made me shudder in a delightful way. Certain twentieth century buildings do that to me....

Sadly, this big old Art Deco queen is a victim of "demolition by neglect" (which we are all too familiar with here in Vancouver) and is only a shell (you can see right through the windows above). Hopefully the government with step in to protect this eerily odd, strangely beautiful, magical building.

So, unfortunately this is NOT my photo, but nonetheless here is the Battersea Power Station. Only just now did I realize that it is also famous for some Pink Floyd (my most hated band ever) stuff, but I don't care about that. I just want to go around the world and stare at more buildings. Please?

4 comments:

Paul said...

When Battersea stopped producing power, there were many plans for it's redevelopment, Hotels, theme parks, museums etc. etc. however being both a listed (legally protected) building and an iconic piece of London's riverscape most were not considered appropriate. Since then there have been at least three plans accepted,started and then abandoned, the site is now used for concerts and sporting events but the shell of the old power station is not safe for use, and need developing. I believe that Londoners will not let this wonderfull building disintegrate, but I just can't see who will come up with the money now.

JKK said...

Welcome back my dear. I've been missing your blog updates. Yes, please, let the gods (the universe, donald trump) please send you around the world so you can stare at more buildings & bring all us armchair globetrotters closer to all those wonderful distant lands... Wishing you the best! cheers!

Pat said...

So sorry to hear about your camera! Isn't this the second camera that you lost, or am I thinking of someone else?

Lord Noel & Lady Jacqueline said...

Just a thought but sometimes it's worth reporting it to the local Police - lots of items DO get handed in so you could get it back - but only if you let them know you've lost it....Love the blog x

 
UA-37934446-1