NEON: entertainment and cultural exhibition space, Battersea Power Station -UAU-Studio & EPG
In collaboration with UAU-Studio and EPG, Battersea Power Station is set to open London’s newest exhibition space in Spring 2025, created by NEON, a leading name in immersive experiences and exhibitions.
In collaboration with UAU-Studio and EPG, Battersea Power Station is set to open London’s newest exhibition space in Spring 2025, created by NEON, a leading name in immersive experiences and exhibitions.
This venue marks Central London’s first dedicated entertainment and cultural exhibition area, located adjacent to the iconic Battersea Power Station on Circus Road East. It will introduce NEON’s world-famous immersive experiences to the city, starting with an exhibition that will be announced soon.
Battersea Power Station, a stunning architectural feature and former coal-fired power plant on the River Thames's south bank, is one of London’s most recognised landmarks. Its distinctive architecture and cultural significance gained global recognition, especially with its feature on Pink Floyd’s Animals album cover, solidifying its spot in popular culture. Its rich historical and visual character makes it an ideal location for this innovative venue, harmonising heritage with modernity.
Taking cues from the Battersea Power Station’s iconic white chimneys, UAU-Studio and EPG have re-envisioned their historical importance in a contemporary style. The facade presents a sleek, modern take on the chimneys, elegantly woven into a forward-thinking design. The corrugated surface dynamically interacts with natural light, producing an ever-shifting display of light and shadow, giving life to the structure.
The building features a dual-layer facade system combining functional utility and striking aesthetics. The inner layer serves as the building’s core envelope, while the outer “curtain” facade—a flowing, wavy white veil—envelops the structure in a sculptural form. Its undulating borders rise at critical entrances, establishing dynamic and welcoming access points.
Designed to engage with natural light, the curtain facade’s wavy shapes create shifting patterns of light and shadow throughout the day, enhancing the building's bond with its environment. A multilayer digital system combines translucent polycarbonate with LED pixels, allowing for vibrant graphic displays that elevate visual interest and provide interactive, memorable visitor experiences.
The building will include a green roof, boosting its sustainability and creating a seamless transition with nature. Surrounding the venue, a carefully designed public space will serve as a lively gathering place for social events and recreational activities. This area will be animated by dynamic digital content showcased on the facade, adding an engaging element to the ambience.
The landscape design has been meticulously developed in line with the recent urban redevelopment of Battersea Power Station, emphasising biodiversity by incorporating local shrubs and tall grasses, thereby promoting a harmonious relationship with the surrounding ecosystem.
Project developed in collaboration between UAU-Studio and EPG / Client: Neon / Landlord: Battersea Power Station Development Company / General Contractor: Starlive - images courtesy of UAU-Studio and EPG
Canada Water reveals a new pedestrian boardwalk designed by Asif Khan.
British Land and AustralianSuper, the partners behind the Canada Water masterplan, introduce a new public architectural landmark designed by Asif Khan. The impressive 170-meter-long boardwalk takes inspiration from the history of the Surrey Docks, highlighting its significance in the timber trade during the 19th and 20th centuries.
British Land and AustralianSuper, the partners behind the Canada Water masterplan, introduce a new public architectural landmark designed by Asif Khan. The impressive 170-meter-long boardwalk takes inspiration from the history of the Surrey Docks, highlighting its significance in the timber trade during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Townshend Landscape Architect has designed a series of new stairs leading to the water’s edge, complemented by waterside seating and an educational dipping pond, transforming the area into a unique public space that encourages community engagement with the locality’s heritage and ecology.
This striking red timber structure allows visitors to navigate the dock by stepping from one timber plank to another, mirroring the experience of rafters who traversed floating deal planks in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The boardwalk aims to improve connectivity within the town centre, offering a new way for visitors to enjoy nature while minimising environmental disturbance. It enables patrons to engage with nature and walk among various wildlife habitats. The elevated structure gracefully stretches across the dock's surface, providing unique vistas and a close-up nature experience.
Photography: Brendan Bell
Through the development of a range of islands and channels, Townshend, in partnership with the London Wildlife Trust, has established a new shoreline composed of diverse habitats designed to enhance biodiversity. Three new wetland habitats, seven wetland islands, and over a kilometre of shallow edges have been created. Reed beds, flowering plants, and trees have been introduced to attract dragonflies, butterflies, kingfishers, and frogs, while also providing excellent nesting sites for ducks, swans, and other birds.
In the next decade, the 53-acre Canada Water masterplan will create a new district in central London, featuring approximately 1 million square feet of new retail, leisure, and educational amenities; up to 2 million square feet of workspace for 20,000 employees; between 2,000 and 4,000 new homes; as well as a 3.5-acre public park, a town square; the first new high street in London to be developed in 100 years; and a new leisure centre.