65 Davies Street / PLP Architecture

Architects: PLP Architecture
Area: 6,040 m²
Year: 2023
Photography: Jack Hobhouse
Developer: Grosvenor
Main Contractor: Multiplex
Cladding Contractor: Schneider GB Ltd
Structural Engineer: Arup
M&E Engineer: Briggs and Forrester Engineering Services
Facade Consultant: Thornton Tomasetti
Facade Engineer: Interface Facade Engineers
Client: Grosvenor
Local Area: Mayfair
County: Greater London
Country: England

65 Davies Street, an office building designed by PLP Architecture in Mayfair, London, has introduced a flexible and energy-efficient commercial workspace directly above the Elizabeth Line’s Bond Street Station, completed in 2023. Commissioned by Grosvenor, the 6,040 sqm structure responds to long-term shifts in workplace design with pre-pandemic strategies that emphasize adaptability and environmental performance. The development integrates photovoltaic rooftop systems, a fully electric energy supply, and biodiversity features such as a native wildflower trellis to meet WELL, BREEAM Excellent, and WiredScore Platinum targets. Developed in parallel with Crossrail infrastructure beneath the site, the design accommodates structural complexity while aligning with tenant demands. Terraces on every floor, natural materials, and three-meter ceiling heights enhance user experience, while a façade of terracotta, stone, and bronze anchors the project in Mayfair’s historic streetscape. Public-facing interventions include a commissioned artwork by Clare Twomey and ecologically curated plantings, reinforcing the project’s urban and social engagement.

Using bio-based and low-carbon materials is about more than sustainability — it’s about rethinking our relationship with nature and design.
Interview with Michael Polisano of PLP Architecture

PLP Architecture has completed 65 Davies Street, a 6,040-square-meter office building in Mayfair, London, for Grosvenor. Positioned directly above the new Bond Street Station on the Elizabeth Line, the project delivers six Grade A commercial space floors and was fully pre-let before completion in 2023. The building achieved high rental values, reflecting both its strategic location and forward-looking design.

The development builds upon PLP Architecture’s extensive portfolio in Westminster, where the practice has realized twelve projects over the last decade. These include offices at 73–77 Brook Street, Burberry’s headquarters at One Page Street, Qatar Airways’ UK base, and residential projects such as 60 Curzon, Park Modern, Chiltern Place, Lincoln Square, and Mayfair Park. The studio also designed Adidas’ flagship retail unit at 425 Oxford Street.

Planning for 65 Davies Street began in 2007. The architectural strategy had to address both above-ground development and the concurrent underground construction of the Crossrail infrastructure. The long design timeline required adaptability and coordination with ongoing transit engineering, positioning the building as an example of architectural foresight.

The project was conceived with embedded flexibility to accommodate future shifts in workplace behavior. Designed well in advance of the COVID-19 pandemic, the building incorporates features now associated with post-pandemic office environments, including open floor plans, multiple outdoor spaces, and generous ceiling heights.

Sustainability principles are integral to the project’s technical and material approach. The structure is fully electric and includes rooftop photovoltaic panels and a green trellis planted with native wildflowers. These interventions support the building’s pursuit of WELL accreditation, a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating, and WiredScore Platinum status, aligning it with industry benchmarks for health, energy performance, and digital infrastructure.

Interiors are designed to support light-filled, comfortable workplaces. Floor-to-ceiling heights reach three meters, while each floor includes planted balconies or terraces that double as outdoor meeting areas. These outdoor elements contribute to a healthier work environment and foster interaction among tenants.

Materiality draws from the surrounding urban context. The use of terracotta, stone, and bronze reflects and reinterprets the architectural language of Mayfair’s historic buildings. The design aims to establish continuity without imitation, anchoring the project in its setting.

Public realm contributions include a façade installation by artist Clare Twomey on the building’s western side and a biodiverse green trellis on the south elevation. The selection of native plant species reinforces local ecological resilience and supports biodiversity goals within the dense urban fabric.

Lee Polisano, President of PLP Architecture, stated that the project delivers “one of the most technologically advanced, best-connected and sustainable workplaces in London.” He acknowledged Grosvenor’s long-term collaboration on the scheme, which began nearly sixteen years earlier, and highlighted the project’s full pre-letting as a direct outcome of its architectural clarity and market responsiveness.

Ron Bakker, Co-Founding Partner, emphasized the contextual roots of the design, noting that elements such as terracotta and native planting connect the building to the heritage of its location. The architects sought to create a building that would contribute to Mayfair’s long-term evolution.

Philip George, Project Director at Grosvenor, described 65 Davies Street as one of the best-connected offices in London and credited its pre-letting success to its design quality and tenant-focused amenities.