Architect beats Fosters and SOM to design controversial site
Rafael Vinoly, the architect behind the "Walkie talkie tower" at 20 Fenchurch Street in the City of London, has been appointed by Real Estate Opportunities to masterplan its Battersea Power Station site.
Vinoly beat fellow shortlisted architects Fosters and SOM to design the scheme after Arup's original masterplan for the 15 hectare site was scrapped by REO in February.
REO hope to recieve fresh planning consent following the new masterplan. Although REO has not yet revealed its plans for the site it is believed it will be a largely residential scheme.
Former Battersea owners Parkview International had planned an ambitious retail, leisure and exhibition-led scheme with planning consent for 405,000 sq m of floorspace including shops, two hotels, exhibition and office space, 2,000 seat auditorium and 700 homes.
Commenting on the announcement Vinoly said: "Bringing back to life this spectacular building is one of the most exciting prospects for the future of London. The potential of revitalizing this area of town in a sensible and well balanced manner is prehaps the most exciting job we ever hope to be involved in."
REO's development manager Rob Davis said: "Vinoly is an internationally acclaimed architect who has proven time after time that he is capable of devising creative and responsive architectural solutions to maximise the potential of challenging sites. We believe his masterplan for Battersea will ultimately result in a sucessful development for local residents, for Londoners and visitors to London which will complement the Power Station building itself while preserving its iconic status."
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