Talking Place

E36: Beyond the Logo: How Hounslow Is Building a Place Brand

Can a place brand do more than give a place a new identity? In Episode 36 of Talking Place, host Tanisha Raffiuddin sits down with Councillor Tom Bruce, Deputy Leader of the London Borough of Hounslow, and Peter O’Brien, Executive Director of Placemaking and Growth, to explore how Hounslow is using place branding as part of a bigger story about regeneration, investment, partnership and civic pride. The conversation goes behind the scenes of Hounslow’s place brand, from community engagement to the challenge of bringing together places with distinct identities, including Chiswick, Feltham, Brentford and Hounslow Town Centre. They discuss why the discovery phase was extended, what they learned along the way, and why the brand had to be more than an ‘I love Hounslow’ badge. They also explore place leadership, inward investment and how the brand connects to regeneration projects including Feltham and the Golden Mile. At its heart is a bigger question: how can a changing place retain its identity while moving confidently into its next chapter? Topics Covered Why Hounslow created a place brand and what it wanted it to achieve Place leadership, collaboration and making difficult decisions Why community engagement needs to go deeper than consultation Building civic pride across distinct communities and identities Using place branding to support regeneration and inward investment The Golden Mile, Feltham and Hounslow’s vision for the future About Our Guests Tom Bruce is Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Assets, Regeneration, and Development at the London Borough of Hounslow, with responsibility spanning regeneration, economic development, planning, council homebuilding and corporate assets. He brings a personal connection to Hounslow, having grown up in the borough. Peter O’Brien is Executive Director of Placemaking & Growth at Hounslow Council, bringing around two decades of experience working in place. Join the Conversation Who is your city built for? What would it take to make it work for everyone? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram or LinkedIn @TalkingPlacePodcast using #TalkingPlacePodcast Links and Mentions Hounslow Council: Official website Hounslow Regeneration: Regeneration and development plans Hounslow Place Promotion: Place promotion workshops and community engagement Golden Mile: Golden Mile regeneration and investment programme Opportunity Hounslow: Hounslow’s growth and investment programme Support the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website: www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website: www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup

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E35: Building for People, Not Just Profit with Hanna Afolabi

What does people-first development actually look like? Hanna Afolabi MRICS, Managing Director & Founder of Mood and Space and CEO & Founder of Black Women in Real Estate, joins host Tanisha Raffiuddin on Talking Place to explore what it means to make development work for the people who use and live in the places being created. The conversation moves from Hanna's route into development and large-scale regeneration to a simple definition of place: people gathering. She explains why understanding end users can shape better homes and longer-lasting places, drawing on community-led development and her work with London Community Land Trust (CLT). She also looks at how build-to-hold models and purpose-built student accommodation are changing the relationship between developers, investors and the people living in their buildings. Then the harder questions arrive. Hanna unpacks why ‘Viability’ has become such a catch-all term at a time when construction costs and borrowing rates are rising while sales values and rents are under pressure. Later, she shares the journey behind founding Black Women in Real Estate, from a first community engagement meeting in East London where the room did not reflect the diversity of the area, to a network that began with 15 black women and grew organically and now launched in New York. Her vision is clear: development should bring together public and private sectors, create genuinely mixed communities, and put the people who already call a place home at the heart of its future. Topics Covered People-first development and why understanding end users can improve homes and places How build-to-hold, Build-to-Rent (BTR) and Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) are changing the incentives around long-term stewardship Why 'Viability' has become a catch-all term in a difficult housing market Construction costs, borrowing rates, building safety and the challenge of delivering more homes Community engagement, representation and who gets a seat in the room The founding and growth of Black Women in Real Estate About Our Guest Hanna Afolabi MRICS is Managing Director & Founder at Mood and Space, a development consultancy focused on development strategy, development management and social value. She is also CEO & Founder of Black Women in Real Estate, a network created to increase connection, visibility and representation for Black women in the sector. Join the Conversation Who is your city built for? What would it take to make it work for everyone? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram or LinkedIn @TalkingPlacePodcast using #TalkingPlacePodcast Links and Mentions Mood and Space: https://www.moodandspace.co.uk/ Black Women in Real Estate: https://bwre.org/ London Community Land Trust: https://www.londonclt.org/ East Wick + Sweetwater: https://www.eastwickandsweetwater.co.uk/ Peabody: https://www.peabodygroup.org.uk/ Support the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website: www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website: www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup

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E34: Tactical Urbanism in a War Zone: The Power of Citizen-Led Action with Mikael Colville-Andersen

What can a city learn about resilience when people are forced to redesign how they live? Mikael Colville-Andersen, urban designer, filmmaker and host of the TV Show 'The Life-Sized City', joins host Tanisha Raffiuddin on Talking Place to explore the tactical urbanism projects he delivered in Ukraine during the full-scale war. From coordinating thousands of donated bicycles as humanitarian aid to transforming Kyiv's Kontraktova Square with volunteers, Mikael shares how cities and communities can respond when conventional systems are under extraordinary pressure. The conversation goes beyond the immediate realities of war to examine what other cities can learn from Ukraine. Mikael reflects on the role of simple, analogue systems, from generators keeping local businesses running to trams repurposed to carry water, and how bicycle infrastructure can become part of evacuation planning. He also challenges cities to experiment through temporary projects, question decades of car-centric planning and give citizens more room to shape the places they live. Topics Covered How tactical urbanism transformed Kyiv's Kontraktova Square during the war What Ukrainian cities can teach us about resilience and analogue systems Why cities need to experiment through temporary pilot projects How bicycles became humanitarian and evacuation infrastructure in Ukraine Why car-centric planning needs to be challenged How citizens can play a bigger role in changing their cities If you enjoyed this conversation, please like, subscribe and share. About our Guest Mikael Colville-Andersen is an urban designer, filmmaker, photographer, TV host and author known for his work exploring how cities can become better places for people. He has worked in more than 100 cities and is the host of the global TV series The Life-Sized City, which explores urban life through the people and ideas shaping cities around the world. From 2022 to 2025, Mikael was based in Kyiv, Ukraine, where he worked on tactical urbanism projects during the full-scale war, coordinated donated bicycles as humanitarian aid and developed projects including therapy gardens, community spaces and cycling strategies. His work combines urban design, storytelling and citizen-led action to challenge how we think about the cities we live in. Join the Conversation Who is your city built for? What would it take to make it work for everyone? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram or LinkedIn @TalkingPlacePodcast using #TalkingPlacePodcast Links & Mentions Mikael Colville-Andersen: Official website Mikael Colville-Andersen in Ukraine: Ukraine projects and activities TORV Kyiv: World's Largest Tactical Urbanism Project Bikes4Ukraine Crowdfunding Website: https://fundrazr.com/Bikes4Ukraine The Life-Sized City: https://www.colville-andersen.com/lifesizedcity Support the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website: www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website: www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup

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E33: London 2050: Inside the City Building Britain's AI Future with Theo Blackwell

What happens when a 2,000-year-old city tries to build itself around artificial intelligence without losing the essence that makes it special? Theo Blackwell MBE, London's first Chief Digital Officer, has spent the past nine years tackling exactly that challenge for the Mayor of London. Recorded live at SXSW London, Theo joins host Tanisha Raffiuddin on Talking Place from the London 2050 conference track to explore how the capital is using data, digital innovation and AI to improve the everyday lives of Londoners. This conversation dives into the transformation of King's Cross into a frontier AI hub, how Transport for London became one of the world's most influential smart city testbeds, who really owns London's data across 33 local authorities, and how the Greater London Authority is transforming London into a coherent digital city. Whether you work in placemaking, urban policy or simply want to understand what a smart city really looks like beyond the buzzwords, this episode is for you. Topics Covered Why a smart city should start with solving problems for citizens, not technology How Transport for London worked with Google Maps to improve cycling journeys How London doesn't have one central data lake Why the Mayor’s position is an AI realist, and not an AI pessimist How cities can embrace AI without losing public trust If you enjoyed this conversation, please like, subscribe and share. About Our Guest Theo Blackwell MBE is London's Chief Digital Officer, leading the city's work on digital transformation, data and emerging technologies on behalf of the Mayor of London. He is responsible for shaping London's approach to digital inclusion, innovation and responsible AI, working across government, industry and academia to improve public services and everyday life for Londoners. Theo has been instrumental in initiatives ranging from Transport for London's open data programme to the London Emerging Technology Charter, helping position London as a global leader in digital innovation while championing a people-first approach to smart cities. His work focuses on how technology, when supported by strong governance and public trust, can help create cities that are more inclusive, resilient and responsive to the needs of their citizens. Join the Conversation Who is your city built for? What would it take to make it work for everyone? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram or LinkedIn @TalkingPlacePodcast using #TalkingPlacePodcast Links & Mentions Theo Blackwell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theo-blackwell-mbe/ Transport for London: https://tfl.gov.uk/ London Emerging Technology Charter: https://www.london.gov.uk/publications/emerging-technology-charter-london Sadiq Khan - Mayor of London Support the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website: www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website: www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup

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E32: Women Changing Cities: The Leaders Reshaping Our Streets with Melissa Bruntlett

What does it feel like to move through a city without fear? To just... switch off? For Melissa Bruntlett, author, mobility advocate, and co-author of the new book Women Changing Cities, that feeling isn't a luxury. It's a design choice. Far too few cities are making it. In this episode of Talking Place, host Tanisha Raffiuddin is joined by Melissa Bruntlett, mobility advocate and co-author of Women Changing Cities, to explore why the cities moving fastest on people-first mobility are so often led by women and what it's really costing them to get there. From the gendered reality of political backlash to the chronic underfunding of community engagement, Melissa brings evidence, honesty, and global perspective to one of the most important questions in urban design today: who is the city actually built for? This conversation goes beyond bike lanes and transport policy to ask something bigger: what does it feel like to move through a city without fear, and how do we build more of them? Topics covered: Why women-led cities are accelerating mobility reform The real cost of women in urban leadership: backlash, police escorts, and personal attacks Women-only carriages: progress or a step backwards? What a gender-responsive city looks, feels, and functions like Multimodal travel explained and why car-centric thinking excludes most people The "software" gap: why community engagement is chronically underfunded The economic case for people-first mobility Global lessons from Paris, Bogotá, Tirana, Delhi, Sydney, and Montreal E-bikes as an accessibility tool, not a trend The future of urban mobility About Our Guest Melissa Bruntlett is a mobility advocate, author, and co-founder of Modacity, based in Delft, Netherlands. Together with her husband Chris, she has written three books on cycling, cities, and the way we move, including Building the Cycling City, Curbing Traffic, and their latest, Women Changing Cities. Melissa's work sits at the intersection of gender, mobility, and urban design. She has collaborated with organisations including Women Mobilize Women and the Dutch Cycling Embassy, and has spent the past year travelling the world documenting the women leaders quietly transforming how cities move and the personal price many of them are paying to do it. Join the Conversation Who is your city built for? What would it take to make it work for everyone? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram or LinkedIn @TalkingPlacePodcast using #TalkingPlacePodcast Links & Mentions ● Women Changing Cities: https://www.modacitylife.com/women-changing-cities ● Melissa Bruntlett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-bruntlett/ ● Women Mobilize Women: https://womenmobilize.org/ ● Dutch Cycling Embassy: https://dutchcycling.nl/ ● Anne Hidalgo - former Mayor of Paris ● Claudia Lopez - former Mayor of Bogotá ● Clover Moore - Mayor of Sydney ● Valerie Plante - former Mayor of Montreal Support the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website: www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website: www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup

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E31: How Art Creates Better Places with Marine Tanguy

What happens to a city that treats culture as an afterthought? Founder of MTArt Agency, Marine Tanguy explains why culture is not a luxury but essential urban infrastructure - and why investing in art and artists is one of the smartest decisions cities can make. Marine Tanguy has spent her career demonstrating that public art creates measurable economic, social, and mental health benefits. In this episode, recorded live at SXSW London in Shoreditch, host Tanisha Raffiuddin and Marine get into the real argument: why art is not a cultural luxury but a form of urban infrastructure, what the economics of public art actually look like, how the visual environments of working-class communities are systematically under-resourced, and why the rise of AI makes human creativity more urgent, not less. Marine also shares practical advice for developers, local authorities and city leaders looking to build places people genuinely love.This is a conversation about cities, belonging, and what we owe each other in shared space. TOPICS COVERED Why Marine built the world's first talent agency for visual artists How public art is valued economically - the academic frameworks The billboard inequality statistic and what it reveals about cultural access Cities doing culture well: London, Manchester, Liverpool, Sydney, New York, Lyon, Paris Public art, mental health, and social cohesion The cost-of-living crisis versus long-term cultural investment AI, creativity, and the class divide in access to critical thinking What a culturally thriving city looks like in the next ten years If you enjoyed this conversation, please like, subscribe and share. MARINE TANGUY Marine Tanguy is the Founder & CEO of MTArt Agency, the world's first talent agency for visual artists, a Certified B Corporation with offices in London and Paris. She has published academic work on the economic valuation of public art with both Warwick University and UCL, and her first book - The Visual Detox - was published by Penguin. She was appointed a Special Advisor for UN Women UK in 2025. • MTArt Agency: https://mtart.agency Support the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website: www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website: www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup

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E30: Co-Authoring the City: Audrey Tang on Digital Democracy, Civic AI and Who Gets to Decide

What does it mean for a city to be genuinely co-authored by the people who live in it? In Episode 30 of Talking Place, host Tanisha Raffiuddin speaks with one of the most consequential figures in the global conversation about digital democracy: Audrey Tang, Taiwan's Cyber Ambassador-at-Large and the world's first openly non-binary cabinet minister. Audrey didn't enter government by campaigning. She occupied the parliament - as a civic hacker during Taiwan's 2014 Sunflower Movement, helping coordinate deliberation among half a million people on the streets of Taipei. Out of that moment came vTaiwan: a participatory platform that turned citizen voices into legislation, resolving disputes from Uber to social media scam advertising by surfacing the ideas both sides could actually live with. In this conversation, Tanisha and Audrey explore: • What it means to be a civic hacker, and how to hack a city • How vTaiwan works, and why it rewards bridging voices rather than outrage • Why the biggest risk of the smart city is that it becomes smarter than its citizens • The difference between data as oil (extractive) and data as soil (tended together) • What mayors and city leaders should actually be doing about AI today • How to move cities from tick-box consultation to genuine co-authorship If you work in urban planning, development, or local government - or you just care about the places you live in - this episode is for you. Episode recorded during SXSW London 2026, Shoreditch, London Links and mentions: Audrey Tang: audreyt.org Right Livelihood Award: rightlivelihood.org Plurality (public domain): plurality.net Civic AI toolkit: civic.ai Support the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website: www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website: www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup

Chrisp Street: 75 Years On | Know Your Neighbourhood | LFA 2026

Can regeneration strengthen a community rather than replace it? Chrisp Street Market has been part of East London's story for generations. Chrisp Street in E14 is five minutes from Canary Wharf, named on the DLR, and about to turn 75. Built as part of the Festival of Britain in 1951 - one of the UK's first purpose-built mixed-use developments - it's a place with homes, a market, a listed clock tower, and a community that has stayed rooted here across generations. In this episode of Talking Place: Know Your Neighbourhood, host Tanisha Raffiuddin is joined by Georgia Sharpe from Telford Homes to explore what makes Chrisp Street so special, why authenticity matters in regeneration, and how communities can shape the future of the places they love. Together they discuss: •What makes Chrisp Street distinct in East London •The Festival of Britain legacy and Frederick Gibberd's original design •How diversity — ethnic, economic, generational — creates belonging •Community consultation and the future redevelopment vision •Why E14 was named the Sunday Times' No.1 postcode for 2026 •What regeneration gets right (and wrong) when it comes to community identity This episode is part of the Know Your Neighbourhood series, made in partnership with the London Festival of Architecture 2026 on the theme of Belonging. 🗓️ LFA Event at Chrisp Street: 27th June 2026. Find details at londonfestivalofarchitecture.org 🎙️ Guest: Giorgia Sharpe, Telford Homes 🎙️ Host: Tanisha Raffiuddin, Creative Director, Concept Culture Subscribe to Talking Place for more conversations about the built environment, urban design, and the future of cities. Support the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website: www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website: www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup

Cody Dock: 4,000 Volunteers, One Vision | Know Your Neighbourhood | LFA 2026

Host Tanisha Raffiuddin visits Cody Dock in East London and speaks with Simon Myers and Bella Quirin from Cody Dock about what belonging looks like when it is built on collective ownership. This episode is part of the Know Your Neighbourhood series, produced in partnership with the London Festival of Architecture 2026. The theme is Belonging. Cody Dock sits on the River Lee in East London - on the Greenwich Meridian Line, north of the O2. It has a rolling bridge that is the first of its kind in the world, a reed bed that survived the ice age, and an ecology that includes kingfishers, the occasional seal, and a snail that has been here since before the ice age. It is also, somewhat unusually for this part of London, a community space that 4,000 people a year help build with their own hands. Cody Dock is part of the wider Leamouth and Canning Town neighbourhood, a part of East London regenerating at pace but still - as Simon notes - disconnected in ways that developers, planners, and local authorities need to urgently address. In this episode, you will discover: • What Cody Dock is and why people are surprised when they arrive • Collective ownership as the foundation of belonging • 4,000 volunteers a year - and 400 names carved into a 12-tonne rolling bridge • The 999-year lease and thinking beyond short-term regeneration • The historic lifeboat and its role in the new heritage centre • Ecology: kingfishers, seals, the German hairy snail, and the dream of oysters back in the Lea • What the River Lea has been, and what it could become • Connectivity as the missing piece in East London's regeneration Guests: Simon Myers and Bella Quirin, Cody Dock. Host: Tanisha Raffiuddin, Creative Director, Concept Culture. Chapters 00:00 — Introduction 01:00 — Welcome to Cody Dock 02:14 — Where is Cody Dock? Locating it on the map 03:23 — Belonging at Cody Dock: collective ownership 04:54 — 55,000 new homes and why belonging matters in a transient borough 05:14 — What is being built right now: the heritage centre and arts space 07:14 — What Cody Dock wants to stay the same 08:38 — The River Lea: London's forgotten second river 09:24 — V&A East, Sadler's Wells, and the cultural shift in East London 10:16 — The rolling bridge and 400 names carved in steel 11:44 — The 999-year lease: thinking a thousand years ahead 13:06 — High-density housing and ecology: can they coexist? 14:21 — The German hairy snail and the reed bed surviving since the ice age 15:15 — Oysters back in the Lee: a resident's vision becomes an ecology mission 18:04 — Zoom out: Cody Dock in the wider Leamouth and Canning Town neighbourhood 21:07 — What will make people keep coming back 23:48 — Know Your Neighbourhood: rapid fire round Support the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website: www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website: www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup

City of London: The Neighbourhood of Contrast | Know Your Neighbourhood | LFA2026

In this episode of Know Your Neighbourhood - produced in partnership with the London Festival of Architecture 2026 - host Tanisha Raffiuddin travels to the City of London, the Square Mile, to meet Eliza Grosvenor of NLA at The London Centre. Together they explore this year's LFA2026 theme of Belonging through one of London's most contradictory neighbourhoods: a place with 2,000 years of Roman history sitting beside some of the capital's newest buildings, where the Great Fire of London destroyed 80% of the city, and where the long-standing perception of “bankers only” is being quietly rewritten by community organisations, free cultural programming, and a new wave of public realm projects. In this episode you will discover: • Why the City of London is best understood as a “neighbourhood of contrast” • The real story of the Great Fire of London - and why it shaped the City's winding streets • Why Christopher Wren's rebuilding plan never happened, and what we got instead • The myth that the City is “only for bankers” - and what's actually changing • LFA2026 in the City of London: the Lecture series, the LEGO Challenge, and open livery halls • A bench, a scale model, and what “belonging” really looks like • Accessibility and disability justice in a 2,000-year-old neighbourhood • Know Your Neighbourhood rapid-fire round: coffee, cocktails, views and a curry under £6 Guest Eliza Grosvenor, NLA (New London Architecture) Chapters • 00:00 — Welcome to Know Your Neighbourhood • 02:28 — The City of London: a neighbourhood of contrast • 03:29 — Inside the Square Mile • 04:26 — What does belonging mean here? • 08:13 — LFA2026: what's on in the City of London • 10:03 — The Great Fire that destroyed 80% of London • 11:59 — Busting the “bankers only” myth • 13:15 — The bench that says it all • 18:20 — What the City risks losing • 20:13 — If Eliza could change one thing in this neighbourhood it would be... • 21:47 — Know Your Neighbourhood - rapid fire round Support the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website: www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website: www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup

E29: Bradford City of Culture: The Year That Changed Everything and What Comes Next

Bradford was UK’s City of Culture in 2025. The events happened, the crowds came, the spotlight found a city that had been waiting a long time to show the world what it was made of. The real question begins: what did it actually leave behind? In this final episode of our Bradford miniseries, recorded live at the Bradford Showcase at UKREiiF 2026, Tanisha Raffiuddin sits down with Zulfikar Karim, who has spent 25 years in Bradford's cultural landscape, and David Watson, Bradford Council's new Assistant Director of Culture, Policy and Events, to talk about legacy, momentum, and what comes next. Topics covered: The 20-year ambition behind Bradford's City of Culture bid and what winning actually felt like Delivering the year: pace, partnership, exhaustion, and why some of it was experimental on purpose Why Bradford extended City of Culture beyond the city to the whole district Culture as civic infrastructure: Why the argument has already been won Culture as the number one pillar in Bradford's Built Different growth plan The return on £50 million invested in cultural programming Core memories, collective experiences, and the intangible value of a cultural year How to stop momentum stalling when the spotlight moves on Planning Bradford's cultural legacy for 2030, 2040, and beyond 2025 was a rebrand, not a reinvention: Bradford is still Bradford Timestamps: 00:01:08 - Welcome and introductions 00:04:01 - Going back to the bid: a 20-year ambition and what winning actually felt like 00:05:13 - What happened immediately after winning: panic, a small pot of money, and making it work 00:11:06 - What it actually takes to deliver a City of Culture: pace, partnership, exhaustion 00:15:40 - Legacy: the year has come and gone. Now what? 00:16:02 - Culture as a catalyst for investment and why Bradford is at UKREiiF talking about it 00:19:15 - Culture as civic infrastructure: the argument has already been won 00:23:03 - The tension between culture and economic development: is there one? 00:32:33 - Creative industries: the third biggest economy in the UK, worth £120 billion 00:34:07 - Core memories: Taylor Swift, Eurovision, a child running through the Mirror Pool 00:36:05 - Final thoughts: how do you stop the momentum from stalling? 00:40:32 – Closing thought: 2025 was a rebrand, not a reinvention. Bradford is still Bradford. About Our Guests Zulfikar Karim Bradford born and bred, fifth generation of South Asian heritage, and has spent the last 25 years working in culture and tourism in the city. For Zulfi, 2025 was the pinnacle of a 30-year journey from a time when culture in Bradford meant a museum, to a year that put the city on the world stage. David Watson Assistant Director of Culture, Policy and Events at Bradford Council, a role created as part of Bradford's City of Culture legacy infrastructure. Trained originally as a dancer and choreographer, David has built a career as a cultural leader and has previously delivered a City of Culture programme. He arrived in Bradford five weeks before this recording, already consumed by the city's energy, and focused on turning a remarkable cultural year into a long-term movement. Join the Conversation The spotlight has moved on from Bradford's City of Culture year, but the legacy is only just beginning. What does culture-led regeneration look like when the cameras stop rolling? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram or LinkedIn @TalkingPlacePodcast using #TalkingPlacePodcast Links & Mentions Bradford Council — https://www.bradford.gov.uk UKREiiF 2026 — https://www.ukreiif.com Bradford 2025 City of Culture — https://www.bradford2025.co.uk West Yorkshire Combined Authority — https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk Support the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website: www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website: www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup

Know Your Neighbourhood: Fitzrovia | London Festival of Architecture 2026

What makes a neighbourhood feel like home? In this episode of Talking Place's Know Your Neighbourhood series, host Tanisha Raffiuddin visits Fitzrovia with Marcos Gold, Director of Policy and Place at The Fitzrovia Partnership. Recorded as part of the London Festival of Architecture's 2026 theme of Belonging, this conversation explores how one of central London's most dynamic neighbourhoods balances change, heritage and community. From hidden streets and independent businesses to stories of activism, public space and local identity, discover why Fitzrovia is often described as the place locals tell you to visit. In this episode you will discover: • Why Fitzrovia feels different from other central London neighbourhoods • The power of discovery in shaping memorable places • What belonging means in a constantly changing city • Fitzrovia's connection to Princess Diana and AIDS activism • Why green space matters for urban wellbeing • The role of people in creating successful places Know Your Neighbourhood is produced in partnership with the London Festival of Architecture 2026. Five neighbourhoods. Five conversations. One question: what does it mean to belong? Chapters • 00:00 What is Fitzrovia? • 01:00 Where it sits in London • 02:00 What creates a sense of belonging • 03:20 The BT Tower & place identity • 04:00 Hidden restaurants & local favourites • 05:30 Discoverability & navigation • 07:20 Why people keep coming back • 09:00 Community & connection • 11:00 Fitzrovia’s untold history • 13:00 The future: green spaces & wellbeing Mentions: • BT Tower • Fitzroy Square • Charlotte Street • Great Titchfield Street • Alfred Place • London Festival of Architecture • Find Fitzrovia programme Subscribe to our channel for more conversations exploring the future of cities, placemaking and belonging. Support the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website: www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website: www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup

E28: Be More Bradford: What Happens When a City Designs for Health

85% of our health is determined by non-clinical factors. So why does the built environment remain an afterthought in most public health conversations? In this episode of Talking Place, recorded live at the Bradford Showcase at UKREiiF 2026, Tanisha sits down with three people who are making the evidence-based case for healthier cities - and delivering it. Professor Rosie McEachan (Director, Born in Bradford) shares landmark data from one of Europe's largest longitudinal health studies - including the finding that one in three children's asthma cases in Bradford are directly attributable to traffic-related air pollution. Abigail Scott Paul (Global Head of Humanise Campaign, Heatherwick Studio) makes the neuroscience case for why bland buildings are a public health emergency. James Almond (Managing Director, P+HS Architects) brings the delivery reality - including a £65m mental health hospital in Bradford that is already changing how an NHS trust operates. Together, they tackle the big structural question: where is the power sitting that is preventing the change that needs to happen? CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction 1:10 Guest introductions 2:40 What Born in Bradford reveals about place and health 6:20 How healthcare design changes behaviour: the sexual health clinic case study 8:50 What design decisions genuinely improve health outcomes 10:40 The Humanise Campaign: buildings, neuroscience and visual stress 13:20 How Bradford's city centre transformation is already changing lives 18:10 Leadership, long-term thinking and why Bradford's pedestrianisation was worth the fight 24:15 Bradford teenagers: reaching a tipping point in civic pride 28:10 Where is the power sitting that's blocking change? 34:40 Final thoughts: one message for decision-makers Join the Conversation Your city is shaping your health every single day. What would it take to build somewhere that actually works for people's wellbeing? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram or LinkedIn @TalkingPlacePodcast using #TalkingPlacePodcast Links & Mentions Invest in Bradford - https://www.investinbradford.com/ Born in Bradford - https://borninbradford.nhs.uk P+HS Architects - www.pandhs.co.uk Humanise Campaign - https://www.humanisecampaign.org Bradford Council - https://www.bradford.gov.uk UKREiiF 2026 - https://www.ukreiif.com Linfield Mount mental health hospital, Bradford Bradford City Centre pedestrianisation West Yorkshire Mass Transit King's Cross regeneration, London Support the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website: www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website: www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup

Know Your Neighbourhood: Alexandra Palace & Wood Green | LFA2026

What makes people feel they belong somewhere? In this episode of Talking Place, host Tanisha Raffiuddin visits Alexandra Palace and Wood Green as part of London Festival of Architecture's Know Your Neighbourhood series exploring the theme of belonging. Joined by Louise Johnson from the Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust, the conversation explores why ‘Ally Pally’ continues to hold such a special place in the hearts of Londoners more than 150 years after it first opened its doors. From its role as the birthplace of television to the memories created through concerts, family traditions and everyday walks in the park, Alexandra Palace reveals how places become part of our personal and collective identities. The episode also uncovers the hidden creative energy of Wood Green, from its cultural quarter to its remarkable concentration of music recording studios, highlighting a side of the neighbourhood that many visitors may not be aware of. Together, they discuss stewardship, heritage, creativity, public space and the responsibility of caring for places that generations of people call their own. Topics covered: • The story behind London's People's Palace • Why belonging is built through shared memories • Alexandra Palace's role in broadcasting history • Hidden creative communities in Wood Green • Heritage, sustainability and stewardship • The importance of neighbourhood identity in London Plus, the rapid-fire round: best coffee, best view, the walk only locals know, and what you don't really understand about this neighbourhood until you've watched the sunset from the south terrace. Know Your Neighbourhood is a five-episode series exploring five London Festival of Architecture 2026 neighbourhoods through the lens of this year's theme: Belonging. If you've ever wondered why certain places stay with us long after we've left them, this episode and series are for you. If you've ever wondered why certain places stay with us long after we've left them, this episode is for you. Shownotes Welcome to Alexandra Palace & Wood Green What belonging means in a London neighbourhood The People's Palace and its civic mission Why people keep returning to Ally Pally Memories, milestones and emotional attachment The hidden creative economy of Wood Green The birthplace of television Heritage skills and future stewardship Sustainability and caring for future generations Know Your Neighbourhood rapid-fire round About Our Guest Louise Johnson is Head of Strategic Planning and Projects at Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust. Links and Mentions Alexandra Park and Palace Trust: https://www.alexandrapalace.com North London Skate Club: https://www.northlondonskateclub.com London Festival of Architecture 2026: https://www.londonfestivalofarchitecture.org Under Many Flags mural by Matt Dosso Ludos: https://ludoslondon.co.uk/ Oita: https://www.oitarestaurant.com/woodgreen Blue House Yard: https://www.bluehouseyard.com/ Wolves Lane: https://www.wolveslane.org/ Support the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website: www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website: www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup

E27: Shaping Bradford: Heritage, Housing, and the Hard Yards of Regeneration

Bradford is one of the UK's most talked-about regeneration stories and for good reason. With a demographic dividend, a stunning heritage canvas, and one of the boldest city centre transformation programmes in the country underway, Bradford is doing something different. In this episode, recorded live at the Bradford Showcase at UKREiiF 2026 in Leeds, I sat down with three people right at the heart of making Bradford's next chapter happen. David Shepherd, Strategic Director for Growth at Bradford Council, the person responsible for the blueprint that's driving the city forward. Lisa Gledhill, Managing Director of National Partnerships at Muse and a Director of the English Cities Fund, the development partner behind Bradford City Village. And Niall Bourke, Associate Director at Arup, who's been watching Bradford City Centre transform over two decades of work on the ground. We talk about what it means to make a market in a city at marginal viability, the art and hard work of public-private partnership, custodianship of heritage, of community, of momentum, and what it really takes to shape a city that works for everyone who lives in it. Topics covered: What Bradford is and why it's been underestimated The city's demographic dividend and what it means for economic growth What it means to be a Core City beyond the headline The Southern Gateway: 146 hectares and a chance to stitch communities back together Bradford City Village: transforming the old retail heart into 1,000 homes The viability challenge: Why Bradford is "making a market" What the Mirror Pool moment revealed about pent-up demand for great public space The Born in Bradford longitudinal study and how data is shaping housing and public realm decisions What makes a public-private partnership work: aligned values, shared objectives, and trust Final thoughts: vision, relentless drive, grit, determination, and humility About Our Guests David Shepherd Strategic Director for Growth at Bradford Council, where he leads the blueprint for delivering economic growth and built environment improvements across the district. A lifelong Bradfordian, David has spent the last three and a half years driving some of the city's most significant regeneration investment, from the pedestrianisation of the city centre to the Southern Gateway masterplan. Lisa Gledhill Managing Director of National Partnerships at Muse and a Director of the English Cities Fund (ECF), the development partner behind Bradford City Village. A Bradfordian by upbringing who built her career in London, Lisa brings over 25 years of experience in complex urban regeneration partnerships. Niall Bourke Associate Director at Arup, a global built environment consultancy. Based in Leeds, Niall has worked closely with Bradford Council and its partners for over two decades, including on Bradford City Park, one of the city's first major public realm investments. Join the Conversation Bradford is making a market, but what does it take to back a city before the market does? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram or LinkedIn @TalkingPlacePodcast using #TalkingPlacePodcast Links & Mentions Bradford City Village - https://www.bradfordcityvillage.co.uk Invest in Bradford - https://www.investinbradford.com/showcasing-bradford/showcasing-bradford/ Muse Developments - https://www.muse.co.uk English Cities Fund (ECF) - https://www.englishcitiesfund.co.uk Arup - https://www.arup.com Bradford Council - https://www.bradford.gov.uk Born in Bradford - https://borninbradford.nhs.uk West Yorkshire Combined Authority - https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk UKREiiF 2026 - https://www.ukreiif.com Northern Powerhouse Rail Norfolk Gardens, Bradford Bradford City Park Airedale New Build Hospital Support the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website: www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website: www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup

E26: Can We Design Out Danger? Spatial Justice, Safety & the Politics of Public Space with Deborah Saunt

What does it mean to design a city that's truly just? And can we actually design out danger? In this episode of Talking Place, host Tanisha Raffiuddin sits down with Deborah Saunt, founding director of award-winning London practice DSDHA, for a wide-ranging conversation on spatial justice, community-led design, the safety of women and girls in urban space, and what it means to build cities that work for everyone. Deborah brings the full weight of over 25 years in architecture and urban design to a conversation that moves from the deeply personal - feeling unwelcome as a 14-year-old girl walking through Belgravia - to the systemic: who writes the brief, who authors space, and who gets left out. Topics covered in this episode: • What spatial justice actually means - and why 'public' doesn't always mean inclusive • DSDHA's 'community is context' philosophy and their practice of always talking to at least 100 people before designing anything • The Crabtree Fields restoration in Fitzrovia - a masterclass in co-design across 40 years • Mobility as a right - and why London's transport funding model is failing its residents • The male default in public space design, including hire bikes, lighting, and sightlines • 'Movement and view' - Deborah's practical framework for designing safe public spaces • Regenerative design and the principle of being 'a good ancestor.' • DSDHA's next chapter: extra-urban, the Scottish Highlands studio, and what comes after cities Resources & Links: • Deborah Saunt / DSDHA: https://dsdha.co.uk • Towards Spatial Justice (RIBA-funded research): https://dsdha.co.uk/discourse/writing/towards-spatial-justice • Make Space for Girls: https://www.makespaceforgirls.co.uk • London School of Architecture: https://www.lsa.ac.uk Talking Place is hosted by Tanisha Raffiuddin, Creative Director at Concept Culture. New episodes every fortnight exploring placemaking, urban design, branding, and the stories behind the spaces we inhabit. Sign up for our newsletter: https://linkly.link/2ioti #SpatialJustice #UrbanDesign #Architecture #Placemaking #PublicSpace #TalkingPlacePodcast #ConceptCulture #DSDHA #DeborahSaunt Support the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website: www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website: www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup

E25: Future of Cities - Power, Politics & Density with Patrik Schumacher

Patrick Schumacher, Principal of Zaha Hadid Architects, joins Talking Place for a conversation that challenges some of the most settled assumptions in contemporary placemaking and urban design. From the claim that inclusiveness undermines rather than strengthens place identity, to the argument that London should house 30 million people and that the UK planning system is structurally incapable of delivering the homes the country needs, Patrik makes a case for a more specific, more curated, and more ambitious approach to the built environment. The conversation also ventures into the frontier of AI-powered architecture - not the image generation many are familiar with, but the deep technical work ZHA is doing to train machine learning models to understand structure, tectonics, and fabrication logic. And it closes with Patrik's vision for ZHA's Metrotopia: a virtual city that may reshape how communities form, how conferences run, and how architecture is experienced. Challenging, sensational, and dramatic - this is Talking Place at its most provocative. RESOURCES/ PROJECTS MENTIONED ● Reinier de Graaf · Architect, Comma, Verb ● Second Home · mixed-use workspace, London ● DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza) · Seoul, ZHA ● Heydar Aliyev Centre · Baku, ZHA ● Galaxy SOHO · Beijing, ZHA ● Vitra Fire Station · ZHA ● ZHA Metrotopia · virtual city project ● Prospera · charter city project, Honduras About Patrik Schumacher Patrik Schumacher is Principal of Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) and one of the leading theorists in contemporary architecture. The author of the two-volume treatise “The Autopoiesis of Architecture”, he is known for his unapologetic advocacy of parametricism and free-market urbanism. His latest book, ‘Tectonism – Architecture for the 21st Century’, was released in 2023. His current research and design interest is focused on the metaverse and the integration of real and virtual communication spaces. He received the European Architecture Award in 2025. Support the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website: www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website: www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup

Talking Place Season 3 Trailer

Season 3 Trailer — Talking Place The conversations cities need. The ones the industry keeps avoiding. Season 3 of Talking Place is coming — and it's the most urgent series yet. From the economics of viability to the politics of inclusion. From women changing cities under threat to tactical urbanism in a war zone, with air raid sirens in the background. If you believe cities should be safer, smarter, and built for everyone — this season is for you. Follow Talking Place now with your host Tanisha Raffiuddin. Episodes dropping soon. Support the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website: www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website: www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup

024 - Why Retrofit Is the UK’s Most Urgent Climate and Housing Challenge with Anna Moore

Retrofit is often framed as a technical challenge — but what if it’s actually about people, pride and place? In this episode, Anna Moore, founder of Domna, joins Talking Place to unpack why upgrading the homes we already live in is essential for tackling fuel poverty, improving health, and creating stronger communities. From the realities of funding and policy to the role of AI and community engagement, this is a grounded, hopeful conversation about how retrofit can reshape the UK’s housing future — one home at a time. About Our Guest Anna Moore is the Founder of Domna, a UK based retrofit company working across social, affordable, and private housing to improve energy efficiency, reduce fuel poverty, and create healthier homes. Before founding Domna, Anna spent a decade at McKinsey, where she was a Partner leading its UK construction and real estate practice and co-leading its European sustainability strategy. Domna operates at national scale, working on tens of thousands of homes each year and combining machine learning driven stock assessment with on the ground delivery. The company partners with housing associations, local authorities, investors, and community groups to turn retrofit into a viable, investable, and people centred solution. Anna is a passionate advocate for treating homes as critical social infrastructure and believes that creating value and creating values must go hand in hand if the UK is to meet its housing, climate, and social impact goals. Join the Conversation: What would it take to retrofit homes at scale while putting people first? How can better homes reshape health, dignity, and belonging? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram or LinkedIn @TalkingPlacePodcast using #TalkingPlacePodcast Support the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website: www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website: www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup

023 - The role of cultural districts in our cities with Gregorio Scarpella

What role does culture play in shaping our cities, and how can collaboration across borders help places thrive? In this episode of Talking Place, host Tanisha Raffiuddin talks place with Gregorio Scarpella, Director of the Global Cultural Districts Network (GCDN), a worldwide network connecting cultural districts at the intersection of culture and urbanism. Drawing on his international journey and his leadership of a global peer network, Gregorio shares how cultural districts can act as catalysts for more inclusive, resilient, and human-centred cities. From governance and stewardship to climate action, equity, and relevance, the conversation explores how culture operates not as an add-on, but as essential urban infrastructure Together, they unpack how collaboration, care, and curiosity can turn places into shared civic assets and why cultural leadership matters more than ever in a rapidly changing world In this episode, you’ll learn: 🟣 What defines a cultural district and why GCDN avoids rigid models in favour of shared agendas and collaboration 🟣 How cultural districts sit between institutions and cities, unlocking impact greater than the sum of their parts 🟣 Why stewardship, programming, and “vibe” are as important as physical design in creating great places 🟣 How cultural districts worldwide are grappling with climate change, displacement, and questions of value 🟣 What successful examples like The Bentway in Toronto reveal about long-term, people-first placemaking About Our Guest Gregorio Scarpella is the Director of the Global Cultural Districts Network (GCDN), a membership organisation supporting more than 70 cultural districts worldwide. Born in Brazil, raised in Switzerland, and now working globally, Gregorio brings an international perspective to cultural placemaking, governance, and urban collaboration. GCDN convenes cultural leaders across continents to share research, practice, and policy on issues ranging from public realm activation and social impact to climate resilience, equity, and digital transformation. Under Gregorio’s leadership, the network has expanded its global reach, research output, and role as a trusted forum for candid, peer-to-peer exchange A passionate advocate for relevance, collaboration, and care, Gregorio believes culture is fundamental to human connection and that cities thrive when people feel welcome, safe, and able to gather. Join the Conversation: What makes a place feel welcoming, relevant, and alive? How can culture help cities respond to today’s biggest challenges? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram or LinkedIn @TalkingPlacePodcast using #TalkingPlacePodcast 🔗 Links & Mentions: 🌍 Global Cultural Districts Network (GCDN): https://www.gcdn.net 🏙️ The Bentway, Toronto: https://www.thebentway.ca 🎭 Quartier des Spectacles, Montreal: https://www.quartierdesspectacles.com 📍 Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, Athens: https://www.snfcc.org To learn more about the host Tanisha Raffiuddin – visit here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tanishaa Website: www.conceptculture.co Twitter: @tanisha.rr Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place – visit here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website: https://www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast X (Twitter): @tppodcast_ Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture – visit here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website: www.conceptculture.co Twitter: @_conceptculture Instagram: @_conceptculture Sign up to our Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/conc Support the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website: www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website: www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup