A Brand New ‘Wellness Village’ Is Coming To London

London is full of converted landmarks, dazzling new-builds and plenty of historic gems, but Bankside’s recently-announced ‘wellness village’ is the first of its kind in the capital. Here’s everything you need to know about The Round, a mixed-used development that’s set to provide 433 new homes. 

What Is A Wellness Village? Inside The Round, Bankside

(c) ELEVEN (CGI)

Set to transform a long-empty 1.8-acre plot in central London is The Round, a mixed-use ‘wellness village’ designed to promote optimum wellbeing for both residents and visitors. 

The development will encompass two residential buildings, a 45-storey commercial building, and even a 300-seater auditorium, plus a brand new public plaza. The project is led by Hines, a real estate investment, development and property management company, with design by renowned architects Foster + Partners. Experts from Arup, a sustainability consultancy, will also play a major role, while the wellness vision will be brought to life by specialists at Pillar Wellbeing.

Of course, fitness facilities are quickly becoming an integral part of luxury London developments – just take a look at the hydro pool at Chelsea Barracks, the sky gym at One Thames Quay, or indeed the state-of-the-art wellness club at The OWO (which is also helmed by Pillar). The Round, however, promises a new and revolutionary approach, designed using a meticulously formulated ‘wellbeing matrix’ spanning six categories: environment, movement, mindset, social, nutrition and recovery. 

(c) ELEVEN (CGI)

Among the provisions for each of these needs are air and water filtration, biophilia, and outdoor space (The Round will apparently boast more terraces than any other tower in the city). When it comes to amenities, meanwhile, you can expect an almost futuristic variety: think digital detox rooms, napping pods, and, naturally, sports facilities, plus a rotating schedule of activities including education and mentorship schemes, music and art therapy, breathwork, and meditation classes.

With all of this in mind, it’s no surprise that decarbonisation is also a major focus of the project. In fact, The Round is designed to be fossil fuel free, 100 percent electric and Net Zero Carbon in operation, with 95 percent of its heat demand served by ground source heat pumps. According to Hines, the project represents ‘a novel and scientific approach to making wellbeing accessible, effective, and sustainable.’ It looks like Bankside is about to be transformed…

For more information, visit hines.com