V&A plans Battersea showcase

The exhibition space would be part of Grimshaw’s design for the redevelopment of the power station as a mixed-use entertainment venue.

The talks come as the V&A considers whether to open a gallery in the south wing of Somerset House in central London.

Mark Jones, V&A director, has said that the institution needs more space to display collections that cannot be accommodated in its South Kensington home.

The space at Battersea Power Station could also be used to house events such as London Fashion Week, which is currently based in a marquees in Battersea Park. Detailed plans for this have yet to be divulged.

A spokesperson for the V&A said there were no confirmed plans regarding the power station, but confirmed that the it had been in contact with Grimshaw.

Grimshaw’s development is the centrepiece of a 14.7 ha masterplan by Arup worth more than £1bn. It includes 81,000 m² of residential units, 50,000 m² of office space, a 2000-seat theatre and two hotels with a total of more than 1000 rooms.

Grimshaw’s work in the power station interior includes plans for a hotel and a multi-screen cinema. It is planning a space in the centre of the development for public events.

The practice is also looking at revamping its design for the “Ellipse” extension to the Royal College of Art, which was shelved last month. The architect is considering a smaller version on the same site, after objections were raised to the design’s proximity to the Royal Albert Hall.

Grimshaw is working with the college to see if it can decant some of its departments into smaller sites, including one in Battersea unconnected to the power station.