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25 Berkeley Square is home to some of London’s most prestigious professional services institutions, and its newest occupant is no exception. Real estate investment management firm The Valesco Group (“Valesco”) appointed Peldon Rose to design and build a 6,000 sq ft workplace that embodies the company’s reputation for excellence, focuses on sustainability, and delivers a differentiated return on experience for its team and clients.
For Valesco founder and CEO Shiraz Jiwa, it was time to weave the company’s DNA into one of London’s most exclusive neighbourhoods, and this cornerstone of Mayfair history was the perfect fit. Tasked with adding a unique elegance to an already beautiful space, it was crucial that Peldon Rose created a space fit for Valesco’s high calibre of talent and clients.
A tale of two halves, the Grade II listed front of the building dates back to 1906, with a more contemporary office and retail space hidden behind the original façade. This posed a challenge; the space needed to feel cohesive while flowing between the contemporary and historical components. Both Peldon Rose and Valesco were prepared to go the distance to do the setting justice, adopting the same forensic precision applied by the firm when making investment decisions, ensuring material, furniture, and colour palette selections were aligned with the overarching design visions whilst incorporating Valesco’s ESG philosophy at the heart of the scheme.
To create an exceptional first impression for visitors, the interior design team chose a striking, sculpted, one-of-a-kind reception desk to fit the modern entrance. The statement piece made from Corian® rises naturally from the marble floor, matching the prestige of the building while offering a modern edge. In the boardroom, a unique eucalyptus table creates a focal point for meetings, with the leather inlay perfectly matching the chairs in the space. Hand-cut, smoked glass mirrors subtly reflect light across the meeting rooms, with the heritage feel of the boardroom matched in other spaces through details including mouldings, hand-painted fireplaces and dado rails.
Comfortable seating and a bright ambience welcome visitors from the moment they step into the office
Manifestation on the meeting room glass offers privacy without compromising on light flow
Situating communal spaces near natural light helps employee productivity and wellbeing
A large kitchen table and armchair seating allows colleagues to break away from their desks and socialise together
Artwork and biophilia create a serene atmosphere in meeting rooms, optimising acoustics by minimising reverberations
Materials and furniture align here to hit ESG targets, whilst retaining a polished, luxurious look and feel
Privacy and confidentiality are key components of Valesco’s operations, making acoustics an essential consideration. Peldon Rose’s expert acoustic partners, Anderson Acoustics, were involved in the project both before and after the fit out to ensure optimum levels were achieved. Artwork throughout the meeting spaces serves a dual purpose of improving insulation and minimising reverberation, while also adding to the aesthetic of the space.
Valesco’s goal for its talent is to thrive and excel, individually and collectively in the space. To achieve this, hyper-functional individual workstations were created alongside meeting rooms to provide privacy for confidential discussions. AV technology in each of the rooms is subtle but powerful, allowing remote attendees to have their voices heard without clunky electronics or visible wires that jar with the elegant style throughout the workspace.
Mirrors are a fantastic way to brighten up a space further, reflecting natural light and movement
Valesco's new home reaches the SKA Gold Standard, is net zero, and sent no waste to landfill. Ensuring that the office delivered from a sustainability perspective was vital, in addition to capitalising on the perfect pairing of a building as beautiful as 25 Berkeley Square, and a business with the prestige to match.
We wanted to provide that wow factor across the whole project, not just in the listed space, and the attention to detail across the whole project does exactly that. It’s an immediate introduction to the beauty of the space and to the firm’s identity that leaves you thinking: ‘Okay, this is Valesco.’
Neutral colours are conducive to a high-calibre, high-focus working ecosystem
The name Valesco is derived from the Latin for growing stronger together, and forging a sense of community was a top priority, so naturally it was vital the new workplace facilitated this. For a team that works best in collaboration, a social space able to accommodate everyone was essential. To make this possible, an impressive 12-seater oak dining table takes centre stage in the communal kitchen area which also features beautiful marble kitchen countertops and splashbacks. Incorporating these elements of high-end residential style brings the team together in a setting that is social by design and provides light relief from the fast-moving corporate world.
Business is about creating win wins and this is what we strive to do together, as a team, as an institution, and with our partners and clients. Giving our talent multiple working environments in which they can thrive, self-actualise and collaborate was non-negotiable. We are recognised for our forensic attention to detail, which we also applied to this office fit-out – every element was carefully considered to ensure we created a home away from home for the team, while also providing an unmatched visitor experience for our partners and clients. The kitchen is one of the rooms I’m most proud of. We have created a warm family dining feel which forms the beating heart of the space for our team. On behalf of the Valesco team, I would like to extend our sincere thanks to Peldon Rose for helping us bring to life our vision for this next evolution in our growth.
Breakout spaces such as these encourage employees to capitalise on the inspiration and energy that comes from collaborating with colleagues
Valesco’s occupancy of 25 Berkeley Square is a testament to what the business has achieved in such a short period of time, and an opportunity for the firm to take its rightful place alongside the heavy hitters of London’s private equity real estate sector. The firm’s arrival required an unbeatable workplace to match, and the end result is a space unlike any other. Striking design in the contemporary half of the building ensures it’s not relegated to a supporting role, while timeless style is carefully drawn out of the heritage rooms. Valesco’s new home is a beautiful and effortlessly functional workplace that will ensure the firm’s longevity and prosperity.
There’s more information about Peldon Rose’s full range of office design and build services here.
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