We are a strategic studio that re-imagines new frontiers for places around the world.
Drawing from urban research, cultural design, foresight and spatial storytelling to define places alive with character and commerce.
People value places that mean something to them. We use narrative and design strategies to draw out meaning, and unlock the power of social and cultural value within the built environment.
Our Process
INSIGHT
Looking out in the world and on the ground to uncover a place’s opportunities.
IMAGINATION
Developing strategic frameworks and future-fit visions to inform decision-making.
IMPACT
Developing concrete action-plans and assets to turn place visions into reality.
Our Output
MASTERCLASS: KNOWLEDGE SHARING
We coach design teams and stakeholders to master the art of collaboration, and the science of storytelling with tools that will energise team cultures.
DESTINATION PLAYBOOK: PLACE VISIONING
We translate insight into powerful place visions by creating guidelines and principles – mapping out how the narrative thread is applied to the built environment, landscape, experience design, and cultural activations.
CREATIVE COMMUNICATION: PLACE EXPRESSION
We apply an editorial eye and creative direction to translate technical content into persuasive communication assets through brand identity, film, photography, illustration, poetry, experience design or digital experiences.
We partner with clients worldwide to add a human, cultural dimension and long-term value to the places they develop, helping them to enter markets with local credibility, generate civic impact, and attune to local distinctiveness.
Our team has worked with:
DESTINATIONS & BRANDS
Snaefellsnes Regional Park, Iceland
Katla UNESCO Geopark, Iceland
Google, Silicon Valley
Pernod Ricard, Ireland
Glenturret, Scotland
Marlow Film Studio, UK
ARCHITECTS, MASTERPLANNERS & DEVELOPERS
Moreau Kusunoki Architects, Paris
Asif Khan, London
BIG, Copenhagen
Prior + Partners, London
Macgregor Coxall, Bristol & Sydney
Jump Studios / Populous, London
JTP Architects & Masterplanners, London
Tuner Works, London
West 8, Rotterdam and New York
Gillespies, London
Lendlease, London & Milan
Peabody, UK
HB Reavis, London
Battersea Power Station, London
Old Oak & Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC)
H Bros China
Allison Brooks
Marc Kohler
ORGANISATIONS
Bristol City Council
Arts University Bournemouth
Central St Martin’s College of Art and Design, University of the Arts, London
National Museums Liverpool
Art Hub
DESIGN TEAMS
Ralph Appelbaum Associates, London & NYC
The Future Laboratory, London
Vibration Group, London
Squint Opera, London & NYC
The Bureau Chiefs gaze into the future and across territory, to define narratives for places around the world. Working with intuitive methods and imaginative minds, they answer the “why here?” “why now?” “what next?” as eloquent concepts and ideas. They are also great fun to work with, integrating seamlessly into teams and communities, finding the material and ideas that others didn’t see or couldn’t articulate.JASON PRIOR, DIRECTOR, PRIOR + PARTNERS
Special thanks to the Rosanna’s who conducted a really useful and constructive workshop - goes to show it can be done in these challenging circumstances!PHILLIP TEFFT, DIRECTOR, RAA
Undaunted by our ambitious and ever expanding workshop The Place Bureau crafted and facilitated our largest ever virtual event with aplomb. Whilst new to our project, I was delighted by their understanding of the site specific subtleties and the ability to draw upon a wealth of broader experiences.RICHARD COPPELL, GROUP DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, URBAN & CIVIC
ROSANNA COVACICH
Bureau Chief
Rosanna Covacich sees the ’next’ to understand places through a future lens. With over 25 years experience working worldwide she’s an expert in storytelling and envisioning sensory experiences across all mediums; collaborating with some of the world’s most well-known brands along with the quieter achievers. From a background in futures insights and behavioural change, she brings an acute understanding of the significance of cultural symbols, and the emotional effects that a well-told story, aesthetics and experience evokes in people.
ROSANNA VITIELLO
Bureau Chief
Rosanna Vitiello sees the true origins of places to uncover their cultural potential. With 18 years international experience, she’s an expert in interpreting the local essence of a place into narrative, public space and experience design. As a creative director she has developed masterplan visions, and place identities for the world’s leading museums, architects, destinations and urban districts. She is also a Research Associate at Central St Martins, London.
Tess Redburn
Cultural Strategist
Tess is a cultural strategist and creative project manager with 10 years of experience working across the creative industries. Combining strategic, academic and creative thinking, she enjoys working collaboratively with the vast network she has built up during her time as an artist agent and consultant. She has an MA in Brands, Communication and Culture from Goldsmiths University, with a dissertation research project investigating how British clothing brands are defining and communicating new rural identities.
Pauline Malaquin
Architect
Pauline sees the unconventional and brings an eclectic aesthetic. After completing her masters at l’ENSAM (Ecole nationale supérieure d'architecture de Montpellier), and the Sendai School of Design, Tohoku University in Japan, Pauline set off to NYC then onto San Francisco before arriving in London. The unpredictable sea, and unconventional cultures have been defining moments. Witnessing the destruction of 2011 Tohoku tsunami led her to research how coastal cities can adapt to challenging environments. By contrast Pauline experienced another extreme - this time cultural – having constructed temporary structures for Burning Man Festival sparking a fascination for temporality in architecture.
AUDACIOUS IMAGINATION
Just what’s needed in times of reinvention, we champion ideas that are bold, unusual and playful.
INTELLIGENT OPTIMISM
Energetic and positive in disposition, backed up by depth of experience and wisdom.
COLLECTIVE EXPLORATION
We never settle and make time to explore, reflect and learn in order to break new ground and share our knowledge.
ROSANNA COVACICH (Australia + APAC)
ROSANNA VITIELLO (UK + Europe)
