British Land is to include a rooftop basketball court on the top of its 4 Kingdom Street development in Paddington, W2, as it seeks to turn the area into a new tech hub.
The Google-esque amenity was revealed this week and is part of British Land’s 2020 sustainability strategy, which aims to use placemaking to “enhance the wellbeing” of its tenants and customers.
Paddington is tipped to become a hotspot for dynamic occupiers and millennials. Last month, Techstars moved its offices from the traditional tech heartland of Shoreditch to British Land’s 2 Kingdom Street. Shoreditch is becoming increasingly expensive and inaccessible for start-ups.
In addition to the basketball court, British Land has been working with architect Allies and Morrison to pilot a series of wellness and productivity design features at 4 Kingdom Street, including a corner terrace on each floor and a “west pod”, which will create a series of collaborative workspaces outside of the main floorplate.
The 147,000 sq ft 4 Kingdom Street, which is scheduled for completion in 2017, will also feature a herb garden on the roof as well as an outdoor games room featuring table tennis, and a library.
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