2.7K 
With a bike stall to unit ratio of 1.6:1 — that's 1,486 stalls for 930 units — the Foster + Partners-designed, Berkeley Group-built, 250 City Road development currently on the rise in central London aims to get residents out of their cars and onto two wheels. The bike-friendly two-tower and townhouse development will be constructed with sustainability in mind, as the former business park is born anew as a modern urban oasis.
Comprised of two towers, seven mid-rise blocks, and a four-star hotel, the development will be built in three stages, beginning with the towers that are now under construction. At 42 and 36 storeys apiece, the towers will each rest upon a seven-storey residential podium with ground-floor retail and services. The full build-out will eventually form a beautifully landscaped inner courtyard, which will help foster a sense of community among residents who share the space.
From the street, Phase One will have a somewhat more imposing presence. The twin towers will soon become part of a neighbourhood in transition, as the area surrounding the development is in the midst of a massive building boom as former warehouses make way for glistening modern highrises.
Recent images from the build site reveal the completed cement skeleton of the podium base, and the first few floors of the attached towers beginning to sprout. Viewed from across the road, the size and scope of the street wall can be appreciated.
250 City Road has been designed as a green living community, and the abundance of bike stalls is just the tip of the iceberg. Each unit will be equipped with an energy display monitor to help residents keep tabs on their energy use, while energy-saving innovations such as smart LED lighting, a rainwater harvesting system, solar panels, and the use of sustainable timber, will combine to make this development one of the greenest of its kind in the city.
Even with all of these environmental considerations, residents will not lack for amenities. 250 City Road will feature a a rooftop gym and terrace equipped with a three-lane pool, steam room, and sauna, along with a business lounge, 24-hour concierge, and building-wide Wi-Fi. Set for completion in 2018, Phase One will be followed immediately by Phases Two and Three, and the entire development is expected to be finished by 2023.
SkyriseCities will be sure to return to this project as progress continues. For more information, check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.
