Natural stone and richly detailed interior finishes play a central role in the repositioning of The Harewood, a boutique workplace by MoreySmith that reimagines an existing commercial building for today's West End office market.

Completed for J.P. Morgan Asset Management following its acquisition of the property in 2024, the 26,000ft² refurbishment transforms the former 2 Harewood Place into contemporary office accommodation while retaining the existing structure. Rather than replacing the building, the project focuses on upgrading and extending its working life, preserving embodied carbon while responding to growing demand for premium, sustainability-conscious workplaces in Mayfair.

For MoreySmith, the commission also marked a return to familiar territory. The practice had previously refurbished the building in 2010, and the latest intervention builds on that earlier work to reposition the address more firmly within Mayfair's evolving commercial landscape.

"Taking a building on the edge of Oxford Street and repositioning it as a Mayfair address is exactly the kind of challenge we relish," says founder Linda Morey-Burrows. "The strength of MoreySmith's architectural and creative team, combined with the residential sensibility of Studio Morey, has allowed us to create something genuinely distinctive."

While the architectural intervention remains deliberately restrained, materiality is used to reshape first impressions and elevate the experience of arrival. A soot-washed façade announces the building's renewed identity at street level before giving way to a marble-lined entrance portal that establishes a more tactile and refined character. Inside, stone continues to anchor the reception, where marble flooring is paired with a high-gloss burr walnut reception desk, deep green mosaic surfaces within the lift lobby, timber panelling, brass detailing and carefully considered lighting.

The palette draws on the language of high-end residential and hospitality interiors rather than conventional speculative office design, reflecting the increasing convergence of workplace and lifestyle environments.

Upper floors continue this approach through the introduction of a new marketing lounge and refurbished shared amenities, alongside upgraded office accommodation designed to appeal to occupiers seeking premium space in one of London's most competitive office locations.

For J.P. Morgan Asset Management, the refurbishment balances commercial ambition with a more sustainable approach to development. "Acquiring The Harewood gave us the opportunity to reintroduce a distinctive boutique asset into one of London's most in-demand office markets," says Charlie Garai of J.P. Morgan Asset Management. "The refurbishment has been executed with commercial intent, and we're confident it will attract tenants who value quality and location in equal measure."

Rather than pursuing wholesale redevelopment, the project demonstrates how careful refurbishment can deliver both environmental and commercial benefits. Retaining the existing structure reduces embodied carbon while allowing investment to focus on the quality of the spaces occupants experience most directly.

That strategy is reinforced through a material palette selected for longevity as much as appearance. Stone provides permanence and visual weight within the entrance sequence, while timber, brass and mosaic finishes introduce warmth and texture that soften the building's commercial character without compromising durability.

Jordan Adair of RX London believes that approach reflects a broader shift within the office market. "MoreySmith bring far more than design expertise to projects like this," he says. "The team has a deep understanding of the commercial property market and how occupiers respond to space, ensuring the design is fully aligned with leasing strategy and long-term value. Their sustainability-led approach — retaining and upgrading what's already there while delivering a genuinely high-end product — adds real commercial credibility."

Rather than relying on dramatic architectural gestures, The Harewood demonstrates how the considered specification of enduring materials can redefine an existing building. Through the use of natural stone, timber and finely crafted interior finishes, MoreySmith has created a workplace that feels rooted in its Mayfair setting while responding to changing expectations of quality, longevity and experience within the contemporary office market.

Images © Peter Landers