Power plants exist to generate power. In the name of economics and efficiency this usually means that power plants are built in a very utilitarian style, with little or no concern for how they look and few decorative details.  Yet this was not always the case.  Many power generating stations built in the first half of the 20th century were designed with as much concern for style as function.   Those which still exist are even considered architectural treasures.

The style of these power stations varies a great deal.  Some are built in a monumental neoclassical style and others are of a more modern style, often with an art deco streamlines design.   In general the design of these plants does not reflect a desire to hide their function, but rather to celebrate their very purpose.    As Cathedrals of Industry they commonly have the name of their operator emblazoned across their walls.   Their design elements may also include symbolic tributes to their very function, such as stylized lightning bolts or images of power and industry.

These structures may embody lofty ideals from an era when technology and human ingenuity had an almost universally positive reception.  They are unapologically grand, even invoking classical and mythological themes to accentuate their function.   They are not only powerful, they look powerful, yet are simultaneously beautiful.   They are more than just monuments – as they not only symbolize the servitude to man, they do serve mankind.

Is it possible that such aesthetic concerns may still have a place in the design of modern power plants?

With the cost of modern nuclear power plants raising into the billions of dollars, it’s a comparatively small expense to add some decorative and artistic items to the structure.   Doing so may have practical benefits to the operator.   For one thing, they are a way of promoting a positive corporate image.   A pleasing design may also increase communicative receptiveness to construction and operation of a plant and generate positive publicity.   An attractive plant may even an outreach tool to increase interest in power generation and the company behind the plant.

At least one organization, Pop Atomic Studios, is beginning an attempt to revive the consideration of art and aesthetics in power generation.

Here are some excellent examples from the past:

Toronto Power Generating Station

(Ontario, Canada)

Yes, it’s a power plant.   From the looks of this grand structure, you might think it’s the parliament building of a European country or a prestigious museum or library.  The Beaux-Arts styled structure was designed by architect E.J. Lennox and  is built of limestone quarried in Indiana.  It was built between 1906 and 1913 by the Electrical Development Company of Ontario – later becoming the  Ontario Power Generation company.   The power plant was retired in 1974 and designated an historic landmark in 1983.

The powerhouse is located just off the Niagara River, slightly upstream from Niagara Falls.   Power was developed from a series of turbines located in pits under the powerhouse.  Water was taken in from the river and discharged through a massive tunnel cut under the river, emerging under the falls.   In addition to its ornate architecture, the huge tunnel carved through the bedrock under the river makes this power plant very unique.

The Battersea Power Station

(London, UK)

It may very well be the world’s most famous power plant or at least the most recognizable.   The massive Art Deco styled power plant has been featured in a number of films and television shows and also was used as the cover for Pink Floyd’s Animals album.   The power plant operated from 1939 until 1983, however it was actually built in two phases.   When first constructed, the power station had only two smoke stacks and a single towering structure.   This section would later become Battersea-A, when Battersea-B was constructed in 1955, doubling the size of the power station and increasing its power output from 243 megawatts to 503 megawatts.

The Battersea power plant has a unique appearance that is unapologeticly industrial while maintaining an aesthetic appeal reminiscent of sky scrapers and ocean liners.  It was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, an accomplished architect and industrial designer who is also noted for designing the red telephone boxes seen in the UK and numerous public buildings.    The plant also featured a stylized interior, with a streamlined appearance that combined traditional and modern design features in areas such as the administrative areas and control rooms.

Despite it’s attractive design, the power plant was coal fired and therefore extremely dirty.  (When I visited London last year, I mentioned the Battersea Power Station to my cabbie.   He told me that when he was in grade school, his class took a field trip to the power plant, which was still operating at the time.  Outside, ash was falling like snow.)  Being in the heart of London, the Battersea Power Station contributed significantly to pollution in the area, leading to its use being scaled back, starting in the 1960’s.    Battersea-A was shut down in 1975, with Battersea-B operating until 1983, although by the time, it was no longer being used for baseload generation.

Since it’s closure, the power plant has been considered as a site for a theme park, residential development and numerous other possible uses.   Unfortunately, plans for preservation and reuse of the structure have repeatedly run out of money or been scrapped before getting very far.    Much of the equipment at the plant was demolished after shutdown in 1983.   Currently, the walls and chimneys are still intact, but the roof from the main hall of the building has been removed, leaving the Battersea Power Station as a shell.    Other rooms and side areas are more intact.   The World Monuments Fund considers the power station to be one of the 100 most endangered monumental structures in the world.

Battersea-A Before the construction of Battersea-B:

After Expansion:

After Decommissioning  / In Present Condition

Interior:

The IRT Powerhouse

(New York City, USA)

The IRT Powerhouse was built in 1904 by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company, a private subway operator in New York City which existed prior to the acquisition of the subway system by the city of New York in 1940.   The plant was built primarily to provide power to the subway and elevated train system owned by IRT.      It operated in this capacity until the 1950’s, when the subway system switched to fully grid-provided power.   The building was then transferred to Con Edison who continued to use it as a power station and a steam plant for the New York City Steam System.

Located at 59th street and 12th avenue, the IRT powerhouse is in the heart of Manhattan, near the Hudson River.   The structure occupies an entire city block.   The structure is cited as an example of the City Beautiful movement, with an ornate classical style designed by noted architect Sanford White.   The original design included six smokestacks, which have since been removed.   In addition to being functional, the style of the stacks was intended to reflect the funnels of ocean liners, which frequently docked at the piers near the powerhouse.

Today the outside of the powerhouse is much as it was at the time of its construction.   A single tall smokestack was built in the 1960’s, replacing the original six stacks.   Most of the original equipment has been removed.    There has been discussion of retiring the building from its function as a steam plant and reusing the structure for other purposes.

Seaholm Power Station

(Austin, Texas, USA)

Seaholm Power Station was built in 1950 to provide electricity to the local public utility in Austin Texas.   Its design is not as ornamented or ornate as some of the other power plants mentioned on this page, yet it has an attractive streamlined look that is both modern and classic.   The design includes art deco elements as well as neon-illuminated signs and chrome decorative trim.

The power station has become an iconic building which has been the inspiration for numerous pieces of pop art, some of which can be seen here and here.  Now decommissioned, plans are to preserve the structure of the power plant for redevelopment into housing and retail.

Richmond Station

(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)

Richmond Generating Station was built in 1925 in Philadelphia PA to provide additional generating capacity for the rapidly increasing power demand in the greater Philadelphia area.   The original structure was built in a classical style, complete with a carved stone exterior and tall plate-glass windows.   The main turbine hall of the power station has a vaulted, arched ceiling with natural illumination from skylights.

The power station was expanded in the 1950’s and again in the late 1960’s.   The expansion included the addition of gas turbine generators and additional switching equipment.   Most of the metal, industrial-looking structure was built after the initial power plant during these expansions, which apparently cared less about aesthetics.

The steam plant at Richmond Station was finally closed in 1984.  All but two of the gas turbine units were subsequently removed.   The property is still owned by the utility and although the original power station has been abandoned, the switching yard is still live and the two gas turbine generators, located in a separate area of the property continue to function as peaking power generators.   The original structure has been allowed to decay and is in danger of being lost completely if preservation action is not taken.

Chester Generating Station

(Chester, Pennsylvania, USA)

Built in 1918 by the Delaware County Electric Company, Chester Station has a unique style that includes classical design elements as well as integration of power plant features, such as the coal loading hoists with the architecture of the plant.  The structure has elongated windows and stone columns.   The decorative details continue inside the plant, where the turbine hall has an ornamented, arched ceiling worthy of a major railway station or public building.  The structure also included an illuminated sign for some time.

Chester Station was closed in 1980 and has since be rehabilitated for other uses.  The structure has been added to the National Registry of Historic Places.

This post turned out to be just too long to include other examples.   It was taking far too much time to put together.   However, a second part with more beautiful power plant pictures will be posted soon.

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This entry was posted on Saturday, September 4th, 2010 at 12:17 pm and is filed under Culture, Enviornment, Good Science, History, Misc, Nuclear, media. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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