A £2 Billion Wellbeing Village Set to Transform London with Sophisticated Design
A wellness-focused mega development in London has received full planning consent, with the scheme expected on-site this year and a completion date of 2030. The Round, at 18 Blackfriars Road in Southwark, London, has been designed by architects Foster + Partners for global real estate developer Hines, which boasts US$90 billion of assets under management across 30 countries.
Arup will oversee construction while Knight Frank is appointed as the property agent. The £2 billion (US$2.6 billion, €2.3 billion) development will span 1 million square feet (92,903 square meters) and will include wellness features aimed at enhancing the physical and mental wellbeing of residents and visitors.
Features of the Wellbeing Village
The project includes two residential skyscrapers and a third tower designated for ‘wellbeing-led’ office space catering to approximately 5,000 people over 45 floors and 800,000 square feet (74,322 square meters). Key components will feature a 300-seat auditorium, accessible cultural spaces, and a public plaza, facilitating year-round events and cultural programming.
The Round has been conceived as the first high-rise building in the UK to achieve the International Well Building Institute’s Well Community Gold Standard, setting a global benchmark for healthy communities.
Pillar Wellbeing is collaborating with designers to establish an offering aimed at addressing social isolation, depression, and anxiety. Among the wellness amenities are hot and cold therapy rooms, napping pods, digital detox areas, and various fitness facilities, alongside activities like art therapy and meditation classes. Oli Patrick, a spokesperson from Pillar Wellbeing, stated that, ‘The Round… will offer solutions to pervasive societal issues such as social isolation and mental health problems.’
Innovating for a Healthier Future
Enhancing connections with nature is also a primary focus of the design, featuring rooftop terraces and gardens on every third floor, alongside the planting of sixty-nine new trees to improve biodiversity and create a better microclimate.
The site, previously occupied by a hat factory and left undeveloped for 20 years, is set to become London’s lowest whole-life carbon high-rise. This ambitious design aims to be fossil fuel-free, operating on 100 percent electric energy, achieving net-zero carbon, and utilizing ground-source heat pumps to meet 95 percent of heating needs.
The development is designed to be pedestrian-friendly and car-free, situated within walking distance of seven bridges over the River Thames and various public transport options.
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