Dramatic elephant mural transforms Leeds office building

A striking image of an elephant portraying Leeds’ cultural heritage has been painted on an office building in the heart of Leeds.

Designed by graffiti artist Russell Meeham, also known as ‘Qubek’, the huge mural has transformed 31 York Place, which was acquired by Property Alliance Group in July. It features on the side of the building that runs alongside the walkway to 33 Park Place, which was also purchased by Alliance in the summer.

The dramatic painting shows an elephant with armour on its face, reflecting the renowned elephant armour, which is on display at the Royal Armouries Museum. It also has a ring of white roses, predominantly around its neck and on the floor, which signify the white rose of Yorkshire, and with a nod to the city’s great industrial past, mills are featured on its back.

Alex Russell, managing director of Alliance said: “We commissioned this unique mural to give the building a new lease of life and create something which is sure to get people talking. It has transformed a plain, uninspiring wall into a stunning piece of art, which celebrates the city’s rich cultural heritage. We’re confident that this will encourage more people to use the walkway and increase footfall in the area.

“The painting is part of our strategy to significantly upgrade both 31 York Place and 33 Park Place. Since acquiring the buildings just over two months ago, we’ve also started an internal refurbishment, which will bring the office accommodation up to a much higher standard for existing tenants and will help secure further lettings.”

Graffiti artist Russell, has named the artwork ‘Winifred’ after his grandma who was born and raised in Leeds and who he says was ‘a strong Yorkshire woman.’

Spanning 64,278 sq ft, 33 Park Place and 31 York Place share a central courtyard area and are situated in the heart of the city’s commercial district. The offices are 76% let to nine tenants, predominantly in the professional services and property sectors, including Mapeley, Allsop and Trillium Property.

The office agents for the scheme are CBRE and JLL.