Investor/Developer FORE Partnership and co-living operator Mason & Fifth have completed The Italian Building, a boutique co-living development in Bermondsey designed to strengthen communities and residents’ well-being through an innovative design and management approach. Ekkist have been supporting the team with analysing the building and its operations in relation to the WELL Building Standard requirements and aligning the design and management of the scheme with well-being goals.
The GLA’S recent report ‘Survey of Londoners’ (available on the Ekkist Bookshelf), found that over a quarter of Londoners feel socially isolated, defined as not having someone they can rely on in an emergency, with 8% often or always feeling lonely, and loneliness being more common among younger and single Londoners. In addition, Londoners aged 25-34 and those who are newer to their local area are substantially less likely to interact with their neighbours than other social groups.
New urban co-living concepts, such as The Italian Building, focus on addressing these social challenges, reducing loneliness and creating a sense of community through the way in which they curate a community in their buildings.
All images courtesy of Nicholas Worley/Mason & Fifth
In addition, Mason & Fifth’s offering is focussed on 5 core pillars of well-living:
Healthy Spaces
The Italian Building is a centrally located urban sanctuary close to the River Thames. Designed to be healthy and sustainable, with earthy, natural decor designed to calm, the scheme offers a range of communal living areas including space to work, home cinema system, huge house kitchen, communal larder, laundry, library, gym and yoga/meditation studio.
Daily Nourishment
The scheme places emphasis on nutrition, with healthy breakfasts, monthly supper clubs with a guest chef and the option of a consultation with a house nutritionist.
Modern Fitness
Mill Street has an on site gym and many activities to help support physical well-being, including a community running club, a holistic daily fitness programme which includes five varieties of yoga, pilates, tai chi and qi gong, and bikes which are available to borrow to explore London.
Mental Clarity
To enhance mental well-being, the scheme offers a mental resilience programme, meditation studio and monthly gong baths to help residents unwind
Conscious Hedonism
Mill Street aims to foster a creative community, and share social spaces with great humans with plenty of time to connect at house events around food, music, literature, art and film, with regular social events and well-equipped, large communal areas.
We are very excited to be working with FORE Partnership and Mason & Fifth as they set out to create a fresh take on co-living and create an investment model focussed on strong social and environmental values.