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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

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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).
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ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

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Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

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