The London Tunnels

Futurecity created a visionary cultural plan and meanwhile strategy for the adaptive reuse of the historic Kingsway Exchange Tunnels. Built as secret bomb shelters during WWII, the tunnels remained classified under the Official Secrets Act until 2007.

The strategy proposes a mix of permanent and temporary cultural uses, including exhibitions on Cold War and telecommunications history, immersive digital installations, and a tech-focused innovation lab offering residencies for artists and creative technologists.

The tunnels - spanning 8,000 sqm - will also host wayfinding interventions and community engagement programmes, connecting subterranean heritage to contemporary culture. This bold and ambitious reuse of deep-city infrastructure creates a new cultural typology beneath London’s surface.

images by DBOX

Year

2024

Client

The London Tunnels

Partners

WilkinsonEyre, DBOX

Location

London

Service

Cultural Placemaking Strategy

Sector

Culture & Education