Thread

1. dofm · 1790058214 · focus · HN ↗

   Oh dear.

   The redeveloped Battersea Power Station is one of the most soulless, dead-eyed, wealth-obsessed places in all of London. This is a terrible place to put something like a music venue, unless your target market is the adult children of emigres with unexplained wealth, and I think it speaks to Apple’s sanitised, emotionally-distant, luxury-focussed worldview that they would consider it.

   Incredible building. Awful development. They could have donated ten million quid to the Music Venue Trust instead.

   The free U2 album looks like the work of a tastemaker by comparison.

   1. flyinglizard · 1790058840 · focus · HN ↗

      I beg to differ. I stayed in Battersea for a week while exploring London. I found the place very welcoming, safe and inspiring. It’s convenient to get to and from with its dedicated underground line. I can see how it fits the Apple brand experience very well (they don’t do gritty stuff). In fact I believe there’s already an Apple Store there.

      1. topato · 1790059945 · focus · HN ↗

         Well, the type of places that OP described are full of service people, paid the best wage that people with little training can make, because they can ALWAYS be nice and welcoming… even when being screamed at and spat upon by the rudest, meanest, and most despicable nepo-jerk you could imagine!

         But, aside from the convenient access to the underground, I’m really intrigued by what you found “inspiring” about this place?

         (I don’t know a single thing about it, never even heard of it, so I’m torn as to which of you two to believe… lol)

         1. flyinglizard · 1790062404 · focus · HN ↗

            It's a combination of a park, a residential neighborhood and a shopping center in the renovated power station. The station is incredible building, with its brick construction. The residential buildings themselves are also special, with some designed by Frank Gehry, and the shopping center is inside the power station building and has an family-rated-steampunk feeling to it.

            We stayed in an apartment overlooking the station front and it was a lovely sight.

         2. rsynnott · 1790062834 · focus · HN ↗

            I know someone who used to live in the new apartment development around the old power station; I think it is possibly the most soulless place I have ever visited. If you've seen The Good Place, then, eh, imagine a densified version of that, I suppose. It was really kind of amazing. Difficult to describe exactly why it was so off-putting, and I suppose tastes differ, but it really was unpleasant.

            The power station itself is an impressive structure, mind you. But of all the things they could have done with it, it's a shame they did this.

            1. dofm · 1790063295 · focus · HN ↗

               > I think it is possibly the most soulless place I have ever visited.

               It's really difficult to put into words, isn't it?

               There are many places in London that are equally wealth-drenched that manage to retain some charm, locality and aspiration to them.

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