Details
Location:Â London
Brick Manufacturers:Â Michelmersh Brick Holdings PLC
Brick Names:Â Freshfield Lane Selected Darks
Architect:Â Eric Parry Architects
Brickwork Contractor:Â BAM Construct UK LTD
About the project
A prominent redevelopment in the heart of Westminster, 11 Belgrave Road reimagines a 1950s office block to set a new benchmark for sustainable and user-focused workplace design. Designed by Eric Parry Architects for Quadrum Global, the project places wellbeing, environmental performance and architectural integration at its core.
Replacing a post-war structure that once stood in stark contrast to the refined character of the Pimlico Conservation Area, the renewed 150,000 sq ft development creates Grade A office accommodation within a thoughtfully remodelled shell. The site originally replaced bomb-damaged Victorian housing and a 19th-century church, and had, over time, fallen short of both modern expectations and conservation standards. Today, the project restores architectural cohesion to Belgrave Road with a new self-supporting precast stone façade, subtly referencing the stuccoed townhouses that line the street and reinforcing the rhythm of the streetscape with finely balanced proportions and first-floor balcony planters.
A significant feature of the redevelopment is its ambitious retention strategy: 35% of the existing structure, including a large section of concrete frame and foundations, has been retained and reused. This structural reuse plays a major role in lowering the building’s whole-life carbon emissions. Designed to exceed the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge target by 38%, 11 Belgrave achieves predicted whole-life embodied carbon emissions of 466 kg CO₂e/m², and upfront carbon of 324 kg CO₂e/m² – reaching LETI’s ‘A’ benchmark.
Freshfield Lane Selected Darks, a dark red multi with hues of orange, purple and brown, was chosen for its rich, earthy character and tactile sandfaced finish. The brick’s warm tonal variation complements the new façade design and enhances the building’s visual connection to its historic setting.
Internally, the scheme delivers 108,000 sq ft of net zero carbon office space, supported by 14,000 sq ft of communal and tenant amenities. These include a café, gym, multiple co-working areas and over 13,000 sq ft of landscaped terraces and gardens. Generous cycle storage and spa-quality changing facilities support active commuting, while environmental performance is underpinned by NABERS UK 5.5*, BREEAM Outstanding, WELL Platinum, WiredScore Platinum and SmartScore Platinum accreditations.
11 Belgrave Road exemplifies a modern workplace that respects its heritage context while embracing future-facing standards of design, sustainability and wellness – a bold yet sensitive transformation that repositions this corner of Westminster for decades to come.
Sponsored by Michelmersh Brick Holdings PLC
As Britain’s Brick Specialists, Michelmersh Brick Holdings PLC unites the best in clay traditions. The Group represents seven of the most recognised premium brands across the UK and Europe: Blockleys, Carlton, Charnwood, Floren.be, Freshfield Lane, Hathern Terra Cotta and Michelmersh, producing over 125 million handmade and machine-made clay bricks and pavers annually. Using modernised production methods that emphasise sustainable building solutions and adhere to the most stringent production requirements, Michelmersh guarantees high quality product standards with a low ecological footprint.
