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London has more than enough skyscrapers, right? Wrong! New high-rises are constantly being designed, proposed, approved and erected in the capital – one thinktank reckons that there are nearly 600 skyscrapers in the pipeline. Now, three of them have been approved for construction in Bankside and new images have been released of what they could look like.
The tall trio at 18 Blackfriars Road will comprise of two residential buildings, one 40-storey and one 22-storey, and one 45-storey office building. The residential towers will create 400 new homes, 40 percent of which will be ‘affordable’. That’s as well as the 1,850 square metres of cultural spaces at ground level and a 300-seat auditorium planned for the development. Altogether, the cluster will be known as ‘The Round’.
Oh, and did we mention the project involves architects Foster + Partners, better known as the people who designed the Gherkin and Millennium Bridge? They’re kind of a big deal.
If you’re worried about sustainability, they’ve got that covered. Each tower has been designed to be 100 per cent electric and net-zero carbon in operation thanks to ground source heat pumps that will deliver 95 per cent of the site's heat demand. The Round will also help boost biodiversity, apparently, with around 70 new trees set to be planted.
Inside the buildings, there are plans for wellness-focused features such as gardens, therapy rooms, napping pods and workout facilities, to support the vision to create a space that ‘holistically supports wellbeing and inspires workers, residents and visitors to achieve more’.
We’re not finished! There will also be children’s play areas, cafes, restaurants and shops and a micro food market. It’s essentially an entirely new neighbourhood.
Here’s a look at what The Round could become.
Other skyscrapers lined up for London include 11 new towers in the City, One Undershaft, 55 Bishopsgate, and the controversial Slab. But as more and more high-rises are built nearby, the Tower of London’s UNESCO heritage status could be at risk.
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