iconic transformation of Battersea power station
The Engine Room
The Engine Room, in London’s re-developed Battersea Power Station, is a bespoke office by design collective bs;bp for IWG (global leader in flexible workspace solutions).
The result is a unique 3,850 sqm co-working destination covering 2 floors in the heart of this iconic building. The Engine Room features a stunning, double-height business club which overlooks the heritage brick façade of the building’s southern entrance.
The Art Deco power station, built in 1929, laid in ruins for almost 40 years. In an era defined by environmental consciousness, it is now one of London’s largest (£9 bn), most successful transformations with sustainability at its core.
The vibrant destination spans 12 floors, has over 120,000 sqm of commercial space, a 2000-capacity auditorium, cinemas, restaurants and conference spaces and six floors of offices for around 5000 people.
IWG
client
2023
year
3,850
m2
2
floors
Location
London
Function
Business club, flexible offices, meeting rooms, coworking community
bs;bp design team
Craig Welch, Maarten Jamin, Studio Sutton
“The intention was to create an environment that does not conflict with the Power Stations unique industrial character but work in sympathy, respecting the existing material and colour palette of the base building.
With this in mind, we inserted a stand-alone, refined cherry wood island. Together with the adjacent spaces it becomes the central collaborative and social heart of The Engine Room”
– Craig Welch| bs;bp member, lead designer of The Engine Room
Raised Platform Island
Through smart planning, a raised platform island facilitates circulation routes and creates a variation of open and enclosed functional spaces, both on and off the platform. Large black dome lights hang above, becoming a place making canopy within the impressive 8m high space.
Central Business Club
innovative planning
The Engine Room business club is located within a double-height space of the power station, offering dramatic views across the day-lit South Atrium.
Throughout the interior space, a fitting palette of materials and colours, refined joinery details, timeless furniture and lighting have been carefully introduced to complement the industrial character and heritage of the Power Station.
A more sustainabile built environment
By transforming an existing structure The Engine Room contributes towards a more sustainable built environment. This is combined with design elements that reduce its carbon footprint, such as joinery made from recycled paper and carpets designed for circularity, with a guaranteed take-back program.
Innovative planning provides all the functional requirements necessary are provided for a thriving, flexible co-working space. It also takes full advantage of the impressive 8m high space that is straddled by the full height Atriums.
multifunctional space
By inserting a raised platform island with strategically landscaped volumes of different sizes at the perimeter, the space facilitates circulation routes and creates a variation of open and enclosed functional spaces, both on and off this platform.
Here up to 300 people can join events, but it always feels human sized and connected. With 8 meter high architectural curtains, the central platform space can be transformed into an enclosed event/presentation venue. This still allows the perimeter business club and circulation space to be used without interruption.
8-meter high glass facade
The glass facade offers dramatic views of the impressive, full height, retained brick facade of the power station.
contemporary intervention
Both the platform and the surrounding volumes are finished in a rich cherry wood, with deep coloured fabric internal wall finishes, creating a refined and highly crafted contemporary intervention which compliments the raw industrial character of the Power Station. In addition, key joinery elements such as the reception desk and serviced café are made of PaperStone, a durable and sustainable material made of recycled paper. Specified in a deep black, the PaperStone references the exposed structure of the iconic base building.
Classic mid-century pieces
Furniture and lighting were carefully selected to work harmoniously with the design scheme and industrial backdrop. Classic mid-century iconic pieces such as Classicon Bibendum armchairs, Cassina LC3 Sofas, Thonet S64 cantilever chairs and Knoll Saarinen Chairs are used throughout, together with special purpose-built joinery furniture. Large black dome lights hang above the central platform becoming a placemaking canopy within the impressive 8m high space.
Perimeter open work and meeting settings
The multifaceted central club space provides a variety of open and closed work settings both on and off the platform.
Semi open workspace
Furniture and lighting were carefully selected to work harmoniously with the design scheme and industrial backdrop.
Complementing design
Black is predominantly used within the furniture and lighting scheme, reflecting the colour of the existing structural elements of the base building. Deep, strong industrial accent colours are also incorporated within the upholstery of certain furniture pieces connecting to the fabric wall linings and curtains of the surrounding meeting enclosures.
IWG as first flexible workspace tenant
In opening The Engine Room, IWG is the first hybrid and flexible workspace provider at Battersea Power Station, joining leading tech brands Apple and SharkNinja, that have also taken office space within this unique Grade II listed landmark.
Office persuasion
This uniqueness is important at a time when office space must provide more to convince people to choose to come into work, as well as enable companies to attract and retain talent.
Recent workplace surveys show that employees are attracted to work in amenity-rich buildings that provide unique character and experiences. These are qualities that the Engine Room, situated within the vibrant, mixed-use redevelopment of Battersea Power Station, provides in abundance.
Open meeting setting
During the design process we were very conscious of respecting the exiting buildings strong industrial typology. With this in mind we selected rich cherry wood as the primary material used within the space. Connecting and reflecting the warm colour of existing brickwork of the buildings facade.
Work booths
Both the platform and the surrounding volumes are finished in a rich cherry wood, with deep coloured fabric internal wall finishes, creating a refined and highly crafted contemporary intervention which compliments the raw industrial character of the Power Station.
