Talking Place

What makes a city truly work, and how do we design places that endure the test of time? In this episode of Talking Place, host Tanisha Raffiuddin ‘talks place’ with Bob Allies, Partner at Allies and Morrison, whose work has shaped some of the UK’s most transformative urban projects - from King’s Cross and the Olympic Park to Brent Cross Town, Bath, and the London College of Fashion building at Eas...

What makes a city truly work, and how do we design places that endure the test of time? In this episode of Talking Place, host Tanisha Raffiuddin ‘talks place’ with Bob Allies, Partner at Allies and Morrison, whose work has shaped some of the UK’s most transformative urban projects - from King’s Cross and the Olympic Park to Brent Cross Town, Bath, and the London College of Fashion building at Eas...

What if buildings didn’t just get demolished, but were moved, reused, and reborn? In this episode of Talking Place , Tanisha Raffiuddin ‘talks place’ with Olly Watts (Joint CEO) and Amy Casterton (Business Development Director) of ES Global, the company pioneering relocatable, modular architecture for some of the world’s biggest stages - from World Expos and Olympic Games to the ABBA Voyage arena...

What does it mean to reimagine a place as complex and stories as Earls Court? In this episode of Talking Place , Tanisha Raffiuddin speaks with Tom Branton, Development Director at the Earls Court Development Company, about the ambitious transformation of the former exhibition centre site and its surrounding neighbourhoods. Together, they unpack how culture, creativity, and community engagement ar...

What makes a place truly people-friendly? In this episode of Talking Place, Tanisha Raffiuddin speaks with Hilary Satchwell - Director at Tibbalds and the Mayor of London’s Town Architect for Angel Edmonton - about designing inclusive cities, embedding social value, and planning for the next 100 years. From safer streets for women and children to the power of storytelling in placemaking, this conv...

In this episode of Talking Place , host Tanisha Raffiuddin is joined by Devorah Block, founder of the Place Literacy Project, to explore why  ‘place’  sits at the nexusof today’s polycrisis,and how a shared language could unlock collaboration across the built environment, policy and the general public. Together, they unpack what  ‘place literacy’  means, teh need for agreed definitions, why conver...

In this episode of Talking Place , host Tanisha Raffiuddin is joined by George Kekatos, Cultural Director at Futurecity, to explore the role of culture in shaping cities, from policy to placemaking. Together, they unpack how cultural strategy can transform the built environment, unlock value and creativity in urban development, and build bridges between artists and developers. From George’s roots...

In this episode of Talking Place , host Tanisha Raffiuddin sits down with Philip Atkinson and Llinos Hughes from Orbit Architects to explore the real-world impact (and joy!) of transforming existing buildings. Together, they explore how creative design thrives not despite, but because of, constraints, and why retrofit is a necessity for shaping the future of our cities. Philip and Llinos share Orb...

In this episode of Talking Place, host Tanisha Raffiuddin heads to the Festival of Place 2025, live from Boxpark Wembley, to uncover the bold ideas, honest reflections, and emerging practices shaping the future of placemaking. Framed around themes of equity, wellbeing, and intergenerational living, this special episode explores what happens when we move beyond performative placemaking and start de...

In this episode of Talking Place, host Tanisha Raffiuddin is joined by not one, but two incredible guests, Rumi Bose, urban designer and place shaping consultant , and Palak Jhunjhunwala, architect and co-founder of Beyond Design. Together they unpack what it means to move beyond “tick-box consultation” and deliver authentic, meaningful co-design. From transforming Peveril Gardens in southeast Lon...

In this episode of Talking Place , Clare —urban health campaigner, housing expert, and founder of Listen 2 Locals —joins host Tanisha Raffiuddin to explore the powerful connection between public health and the places we design, live in, and spend our everyday lives. Clare shares how her work in housing, architecture, and healthcare led her to campaign for more equitable and health-creating urban e...

In this special solo episode of Talking Place, host Tanisha Raffiuddin, Creative Director of Concept Culture, shares her reflections from the inaugural SXSW London 2025—a bold and buzzing fusion of tech, culture, design, and storytelling. As a festival known for its intersectional approach, SXSW’s arrival in London was more than a cultural moment—it was a lens into what the future of place might l...

In this episode of Talking Place, host Tanisha Raffiuddin heads to UKREiiF 2025 in Leeds to hear directly from the voices shaping the future of our built environment. Framed around one powerful question—“What does the place of the future look like?”—this special edition of ‘REiiFlections’ gathers insights from across the public, private, cultural, and development sectors. From democratic housing m...

In this episode of Talking Place, Rosa Rogina, Director of the London Festival of Architecture (LFA), joins host Tanisha Raffiuddin to explore the evolving role of city wide architecture festivals in shaping inclusive, responsive, and people-centered cities. Rosa shares her journey from architecture student in Croatia to curating one of the world’s largest citywide architecture festivals in London...

In this episode of Talking Place, host Tanisha Raffiuddin sits down with Cllr. Kemi Akinola, the Deputy Leader of Wandsworth Council, to explore how culture, placemaking, and community-led leadership are shaping the future of one of London’s most dynamic boroughs. From tackling food insecurity to investing in youth, the Deputy Leader shares her unique journey from grassroots activism to political...

In this episode of Talking Place, host Tanisha Raffiuddin sits down with Frances Heeney, Director of Product Development at Principal Asset Management, to explore how finance, sustainability, and placemaking intersect to shape the future of our communities. With a global career spanning EMEA, the Americas, and APAC, Frances brings a wealth of experience in business development, client relations, a...

In this episode of Talking Place, host Tanisha Raffiuddin sits down with Marsha Ramroop, an inclusion strategist and author of the groundbreaking book ‘Building Inclusion’, to explore the critical intersections of place, diversity, and the human experience. Marsha shares her remarkable journey from a 30-year career in broadcasting to becoming a leading voice in equity, diversity, and inclusion wit...

In this episode of Talking Place, Jay Morton, director of Bell Phillips Architects, sits down with our host Tanisha Raffiuddin to explore the intersection of architecture, community, and social change. Jay shares her journey from Part II architect to Director over 12 years at Bell Philips, a practice known for its moral compass and resident-led design. Discover how meaningful engagement happens wh...

In this episode, Max Farrell, founder of the LDN Collective, sits down with our host Tanisha Raffiuddin to dive into the powerful role communities play in shaping sustainable, resilient, and inclusive urban spaces.  Max explains why understanding the needs, dreams, and challenges of local residents is crucial for successful urban design. He highlights why it is important to bring them into the con...

Place branding expert Dr. Giannina Warren joins our host Tanisha Raffiuddin in a conversation about the importance of place branding in placemaking and development, how place branding can be leveraged to change people’s perception of a place, and its role as a strategic tool to unlock the true potential of places. As the creator of the world’s first MA in place branding at Middlesex University Lon...