LONDON: IT was a historic moment when "Welcome Home" was projected on the front of the Battersea Power Station on Monday, as the first residents moved into the redeveloped London icon.
The Switch House West was the first major element to be completed in the redevelopment project undertaken by a consortium of Malaysian investors.
The former coal-fired power station, which had been lying dormant and derelict since it was decommissioned in the 1980s, opened its doors after a major transformation to restore and repurpose one of the British capital's most-loved landmarks.
Following the light display that was accompanied by music from the London Symphony Orchestra, the Battersea Power Station's community choir performed several songs while visitors and residents enjoyed al fresco dining at the restaurants and bars along the riverfront.
Battersea Power Station Development Company Limited chief design review officer Marina Chung said the evening was a historic moment.
"We are bringing new life back into the power station, which had been left derelict and uninhabited for almost 40 years.
"We are celebrating a very important milestone for the project and there will be many more milestones that will be revealed in the next nine months," she said.
Chung said the project was possible because of the shareholders' commitment and dedication to the creation of a new town centre for Wandsworth here, where everything is within reach.
The light show culminated with a projection of the Jalur Gemilang alongside the Union Jack onto the power station.
In 2012, the wider Battersea Power Station development was taken over by a consortium of Malaysian investors, comprising SP Setia, Sime Darby Property and the Employees' Provident Fund, with the commercial assets within the power station building now directly owned by Permodalan Nasional Bhd and EPF.
Chung said the former coal-fired power station had been lovingly restored.
"Today we use new energy, new transformational technology and, in doing so, we are able to bring life back into the building."
She described the mixed-use development as unique.
"We have 254 beautifully-articulated apartments, 500,000 sq ft of office space, with Apple as our main tenant, three floors of retail and leisure, an event space, cinemas and a beautiful control room. When we open next year, we anticipate there will be about 40 million visitors to the power station."
Chung said despite the pandemic and the challenges, the company made £150 million in sales in the last 12 months.
"This is amazing, given the circumstances. I really believe that is a testimony to how special this project is and how much people want to be part of this story — this new urban quarter in London."
A press release issued for the event said half a million square feet of office space in the building would be handed over to Apple to fit out its new London campus.
Retail and F&B brands will also begin fitting out their units later in the year, ahead of the power station opening to the public.
To connect the development to the rest of London, the Underground's Northern Line extension is on track to open this autumn.
Progress has also been made on the Electric Boulevard, the third phase of the redevelopment comprising Battersea Roof Gardens and buildings to the south of the power station by internationally acclaimed architect firm Gehry Partners.
Battersea Power Station is a worldwide cultural and architectural icon, and is listed as a Grade II* building by English heritage authorities due to its "particular importance of more than special interest".
It is at the heart of one of central London's largest and most anticipated new developments, that involved transforming a 42-acre former industrial brownfield site.
New homes, shops, cafes, restaurants, offices, event spaces and over 19 acres of public space, including a six-acre park, will be built.
Chairman of Battersea Project Holding Company Datuk Ahmad Pardas Senin said welcoming the residents was a proud day for Malaysia.
"This is a proud day for Malaysia and the consortium of shareholders who transformed this historic building into a sustainable city living address, while restoring the landmark and giving it a new lease of life."
Chairman of Battersea Power Station Development Company, Datuk Wong Tuck Wai, said the project was progressing well.
"We are delighted to see the Malaysian vision for this thriving new London neighbourhood now becoming a reality.
"Congratulations to the team who have worked relentlessly to see this through, especially during this challenging Covid-19 pandemic period."
CEO of Battersea Power Station Development Company Simon Murphy thanked shareholders for their commitment to the project as well as those involved in the restoration of the building.
"We can confidently say that the 'Everest of real estate', which the power station was once famously nicknamed, has finally been scaled," he said.