Battersea Power Station redevelopment by WilkinsonEyre takes top prize

The New London Awards 2023 winners have been announced, with the transformation of Battersea Power Station taking the top prize. Designed by Tenderstream member WilkinsonEyre, the world class repurposing of this iconic site also won the conservation category for its meticulous restoration of key heritage features, as well as bold new structural interventions. Another win went to Tenderstream member Studio Egret West, who was recognised in the restoration category for the revitalisation of Ernö Goldfinger’s 27-storey Balfron Tower in East London.

Battersea Power Station has been transformed into a new cultural, retail and leisure destination, with 254 apartments, 565,000 sq ft of office space, events spaces and over 100 shops, restaurants, bars and leisure experiences. On the first anniversary of the regeneration, celebrated earlier this month, project director Sebastien Richard stated: “Visitors from around the world now get to enjoy the mix of heritage architecture and contemporary interventions, animated by the lively mix of activities. In short this is a new destination for London, and a testimony to our client’s vision for this ambitious transformation.”

Guided by Erno Goldfinger’s original vision, Studio Egret West worked with developer Telford Homes, as well as Historic England and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, to bring Balfron tower into the twenty-first century. The idea of a ‘conservation informed’ design was intended to respect the Brutalist architecture while providing a second life for the Tower, making it relevant to today’s society. On explaining the design, Christophe Egret, Studio Egret West founding partner, said: “Our approach, from the outset, was to ask ourselves ‘How would Erno Goldfinger approach the upgrade to the tower – both in terms of contemporary uses and current regulations?'”

Awards organisers New London Architecture (NLA) hosted 700 people at the awards lunch at the Guildhall, with NLA director Benjamin O’Connor noting that the entries for this year’s edition revealed a marked shift towards schemes targeting net zero ambitions and demonstrating a collaborative approach with wider communities and organisations, in order to create an equitable and sustainable city.

Lucy Nordberg
Tenderstream Head of Research

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