Urban Garden For Mayfair

Architecture practice Tonkin Liu and horticulturalists Nigel Dunnett and Gary Grant have designed an “extraordinary urban garden” in the heart of Mayfair, at the behest of landowner Grosvenor Britain & Ireland.

Plans to transform London’s second largest garden square, Grosvenor Square in Mayfair, have been formally submitted to Westminster Council.

Architecture practice Tonkin Liu, horticulturalist Nigel Dunnett and ecologist Gary Grant have designed an “extraordinary urban garden” at the behest of landowner Grosvenor Britain & Ireland. The aim  is “to take the mono-culture there today and transform the square in to a biodiverse centrepiece for Mayfair that supports both the people and economy in the area as well as climate resilience.”

If approved, the overhaul could complete in time for the Square’s 300th anniversary in 2025 (it originally opened in c.1725). This will be only the fifth redesign in the Square’s three-century history, and comes as a fleet of super-prime property developments sprout on its flanks (including Lodha UK’s No.1, Finchatton’s No.20, and a 5* hotel in the old US Embassy).

The whole project will operate as carbon neutral from day one. “Through a highly sustainable design and management plan, embodied and operational carbon will be minimised, with remaining emissions offset through verified schemes,” explains Grosvenor. “Factoring in the significant increase in planting and revitalised soils, additional carbon will also be removed and stored within the square, helping reduce Mayfair’s climate footprint in the long term.”