Battersea, Minimized

Around a year ago, I posted on L+U about the Battersea Power Station by Rafael Viñoly. Since then, announcements were made that the scheme would be reduced down to a much more limited scope based on comments from municipal agencies. The new vision has recently been revealed (see Clean Air through Green Roofs). Let's compare, shall we?

For starters, the original vision:




:: image via WAN

The new, stripped down version is still plenty green, but significantly reduced from the previous version - particularly the minimalism transferred to the, yawn, site and human realm. Alas, it may be that this site is perhaps doomed - as for 25 years the site has sat idle - and with this scheme's compromise position, albeit topped with green, perhaps maybe should be reconsidered as well.

The current vision:




:: images via Clean Air through Green Roofs