Latest
issue
Uniting the world of spa & wellness
Get Spa Business and Spa Business insider digital magazines FREE
Sign up here ▸
News   Features   Products   Company profilesProfiles   Press releasesProfiles   Magazine   Handbook   Advertise    Subscribe  
NEWS
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.
PROJECT PROFILE:

London Underline
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 in collaboration is Pavegen have developed a concept for a sustainable transport alternative in London, situated underground in disused infrastructure, powered by kinetic energy.

Location: London , United Kingdom

RELATED STORIES
  Boris Johnson pushes ahead with “Crossrail for Bikes”


Mayor of London Boris Johnson has announced finalised plans for a new cycle superhighway in the UK capital.
  Abandoned train tunnels below London 'to be transformed' into leisure sites


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 unveiled for two new £913m cycle superhighways in London


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'.
  Mail Rail plans get the green light


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).
MORE NEWS
Belgin Aksoy prepares to mark 15 years of Global Wellness Day on Saturday 13 June
Global Wellness Day (GWD) will mark its 15th anniversary on Saturday 13 June 2026, with the theme: #JoyMagenta – a celebration of the healing qualities of simple gestures and activities that spark joy.
HUM2N opens longevity clinic at Six Senses London
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider, HUM2N, to launch a clinic at Six Senses London, at The Whiteley.
Mayrlife opens first hotel day clinic in partnership with Rosewood Vienna
As part of its first hotel partnership, Mayrlife – the medical health resort company known for its site in Altaussee, Austria – has launched a day clinic at the Rosewood Vienna.
KX Chelsea invests £15 million to upgrade its wellness offering
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining training, recovery and relaxation.
+ More news   

FEATURED SUPPLIERS

Endospheres' new protocols are designed to meet real client needs
Spa professionals see it every day: clients are arriving with more complex expectations. [more...]

Introducing Glass Act by Templespa
Introducing Glass Act, your new go-to eye serum for brighter, smoother, beautifully awakened eyes. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers  
COMPANY PROFILES
TLEE Spas + Wellness

TLEE Spas + Wellness is a globally acclaimed spa design and consulting firm created in 2010 by Tracy [more...]
Lovinfit Group

Lovinfit Group was founded in Parma, Italy in 2016 by a team of doctors, wellness and sports profess [more...]
+ More profiles  
CATALOGUE GALLERY
 

+ More catalogues  

DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

09-12 Jun 2026

W3Spa EMEA

Hotel Cascais Miragem Health & Spa, Portugal
21-23 Jun 2026

Spa Life International (UK)

Midlands (Venue TBA), Liphook, United Kingdom
+ More diary  
 
ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
 
SPA BUSINESS
SPA OPPORTUNITIES
SPA BUSINESS HANDBOOK
PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS
ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026
Uniting the world of spa & wellness
Get Spa Business and Spa Business insider digital magazines FREE
Sign up here ▸
News   Products   Magazine   Subscribe
NEWS
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.
RELATED STORIES
Boris Johnson pushes ahead with “Crossrail for Bikes”


Mayor of London Boris Johnson has announced finalised plans for a new cycle superhighway in the UK capital.
Abandoned train tunnels below London 'to be transformed' into leisure sites


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 unveiled for two new £913m cycle superhighways in London


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'.
Mail Rail plans get the green light


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).
MORE NEWS
Belgin Aksoy prepares to mark 15 years of Global Wellness Day on Saturday 13 June
Global Wellness Day (GWD) will mark its 15th anniversary on Saturday 13 June 2026, with the theme: #JoyMagenta – a celebration of the healing qualities of simple gestures and activities that spark joy.
HUM2N opens longevity clinic at Six Senses London
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider, HUM2N, to launch a clinic at Six Senses London, at The Whiteley.
Mayrlife opens first hotel day clinic in partnership with Rosewood Vienna
As part of its first hotel partnership, Mayrlife – the medical health resort company known for its site in Altaussee, Austria – has launched a day clinic at the Rosewood Vienna.
KX Chelsea invests £15 million to upgrade its wellness offering
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining training, recovery and relaxation.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth offers ocean-themed yoga for Global Wellness Day
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, on the northeast coast of Saint Barthélemy in the French West Indies, is offering a programme of ocean-inspired yoga classes between 8-14 June to celebrate Global Wellness Day (GWD).
Butterfly sanctuary to host hot yoga during retreat at Jersey Zoo for Hotel de France
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
+ More news   
 
FEATURED SUPPLIERS

Endospheres' new protocols are designed to meet real client needs
Spa professionals see it every day: clients are arriving with more complex expectations. [more...]

Introducing Glass Act by Templespa
Introducing Glass Act, your new go-to eye serum for brighter, smoother, beautifully awakened eyes. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers  
COMPANY PROFILES
TLEE Spas + Wellness

TLEE Spas + Wellness is a globally acclaimed spa design and consulting firm created in 2010 by Tracy [more...]
+ More profiles  
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  

DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

09-12 Jun 2026

W3Spa EMEA

Hotel Cascais Miragem Health & Spa, Portugal
21-23 Jun 2026

Spa Life International (UK)

Midlands (Venue TBA), Liphook, United Kingdom
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS