Gensler takes London’s transport future underground with active commuting concept
By Katie Buckley 13 Feb 2015
The Underline would offer commercial and retail spaces as well as transport links Credit: Gensler
Design firm Gensler has been awarded a London Planning Award for its London Underline concept – a network of cycle and pedestrian paths running beneath the city.
Gensler first came up with the idea for the London Underline in 2014. With London’s population higher than ever, the firm looked for ways to expand public space and offer alternative transport routes. The answer, they found, was underground in disused tube tunnels.
London has plenty of abandoned tube tunnels, stations and surplus infrastructure. By using these spaces and powering them with Pavegen tiles – tiles that run on a kinetic energy system allowing footfall to be transposed into electricity – Gensler’s design would be a sustainable, innovative option for capital.
Gensler’s vision for a sustainable, subterranean London
Ian Mulcahey, co-director of Gensler London said: “The adaptation of surplus and under-utilised tube and rail tunnels could provide a quick and simple addition to our infrastructure network.”
Following an announcement last month by Boris Johnson concerning new cycle superhighway for London, it’s clear that health, fitness and sustainability are high on the agenda for the city.
If the project goes ahead, the Underline would offer underground sites for shops, cafes, click and collect points, as well as event and exhibition spaces alongside its key role as a route for active commuting.
Paul Hawco, a seasoned figure in the international wellness industry, has assumed the role of executive director – integrated wellbeing at independent, hospitality group Banyan Group. With a background in therapy and fitness training, Hawco ...More
The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee in the southeastern US state of Georgia is celebrating a new milestone after unveiling its newly renovated 27,000sq ft destination spa. The vision behind the refresh was to create a ...More
Art’otel, Radisson’s contemporary art-inspired lifestyle hotel brand, has strengthened its presence in London with a new hotel in Hoxton fusing art, design and hospitality. The location features 357 art-inspired guest bedrooms and suites all with ...More
HoloBike, a holographic training bike that simulates trail rides in lifelike 3D, is aiming to push indoor cycling technology up a gear. A California-based group of engineers and designers, Saga Holographic, have been working on ...More
Luxury hotel brand Aman, widely known for its strong spa focus, has just launched its much-talked-about sister brand Janu in Tokyo – complete with a 4,000sq m urban wellness retreat. Janu Tokyo is only the ...More
Equinox, has teamed up with health platform, Function Health, to offer 100 comprehensive laboratory tests, giving members vital insights into their internal health as part of an Optimize by Equinox membership. Priced at US$40,000 a ...More
Spanish wellness brand SHA Wellness Clinic is busy preparing to bolster its wellness portfolio in 2026 with a hyper-exclusive island wellness enclave in AlJurf, UAE. SHA Emirates Island at AlJurf – created by Abu Dhabi-based ...More
The historic Breakers Hotel in Long Beach, California, is set to reopen in mid-2024 as a Fairmont Hotels & Resorts property after a significant restoration and redevelopment project. The project, initially unveiled in 2022 by ...More
High-end five-star hotel company Kempinski Hotels is making its mark in Vietnam with a luxury waterfront property overlooking the Saigon River. Set to open by 2026, Kempinski Saigon River – designed by Kengo Kuma & ...More
Marriott International has signed a new deal with Neom to open a Ritz-Carlton Reserve property as part of Trojena, a brand new year-round mountain adventure destination in Saudi Arabia. Launching in 2026, Trojena is a ...More
The Bannatyne Group says it has officially bounced back from the pandemic, with both turnover and profits restored to pre-2020 levels in 2023, according to its year-end results. Owned by former BBC Dragon’s Den investor, ...More
Kerzner International has signed deals to operate two new Siro recovery hotels in Mexico and Saudi Arabia, following the launch of the inaugural Siro property in Dubai this February. Designed to offer guests a holistic ...More
Himalayan Source has launched the Himalayan Salt Capsule to help spa, wellness and fitness
facilities or residences upgrade their offering with halotherapy. ... more
Gensler takes London’s transport future underground with active commuting concept
POSTED 13 Feb 2015 . BY Katie Buckley
The Underline would offer commercial and retail spaces as well as transport links Credit: Gensler
Design firm Gensler has been awarded a London Planning Award for its London Underline concept – a network of cycle and pedestrian paths running beneath the city.
Gensler first came up with the idea for the London Underline in 2014. With London’s population higher than ever, the firm looked for ways to expand public space and offer alternative transport routes. The answer, they found, was underground in disused tube tunnels.
London has plenty of abandoned tube tunnels, stations and surplus infrastructure. By using these spaces and powering them with Pavegen tiles – tiles that run on a kinetic energy system allowing footfall to be transposed into electricity – Gensler’s design would be a sustainable, innovative option for capital.
Gensler’s vision for a sustainable, subterranean London
Ian Mulcahey, co-director of Gensler London said: “The adaptation of surplus and under-utilised tube and rail tunnels could provide a quick and simple addition to our infrastructure network.”
Following an announcement last month by Boris Johnson concerning new cycle superhighway for London, it’s clear that health, fitness and sustainability are high on the agenda for the city.
If the project goes ahead, the Underline would offer underground sites for shops, cafes, click and collect points, as well as event and exhibition spaces alongside its key role as a route for active commuting.
Up to 34 Transport for London (TfL)-owned “ghost” train tunnels running
beneath the UK capital could soon be transformed into an array of attractions
and leisure sites, according to reports.
Plans have been unveiled for the creation of two new cycle superhighways
running from north to south and east to west London, with the £913m
(US$1.5bn, €1.1bn) routes being dubbed 'Crossrail for bikes'.
Islington Borough Council has approved plans to open up a section of the old
Post Office Underground Railway – also known as the Mail Rail – as an attraction
for the newly created British Postal Museum & Archives (BPMA).
Paul Hawco, a seasoned figure in the international wellness industry, has assumed the role of
executive director – integrated wellbeing at independent, hospitality group Banyan Group.
The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee in the southeastern US state of Georgia is celebrating a
new milestone after unveiling its newly renovated 27,000sq ft destination spa.
Art’otel, Radisson’s contemporary art-inspired lifestyle hotel brand, has strengthened its
presence in London with a new hotel in Hoxton fusing art, design and hospitality.
Luxury hotel brand Aman, widely known for its strong spa focus, has just launched its much-
talked-about sister brand Janu in Tokyo – complete with a 4,000sq m urban wellness retreat.
Equinox, has teamed up with health platform, Function Health, to offer 100 comprehensive
laboratory tests, giving members vital insights into their internal health.