APPROACH

We are a strategic studio that re-imagines new frontiers for places around the world.

Drawing expertise from urban research, cultural design, futurist film-making and spatial storytelling to define places alive with character and commerce.

People value places that mean something to them. Using narrative and design strategies to draw out meaning, we unlock the power of social and cultural value to match the economics of a place.

WHAT WE DO

WORK WITH US
We guide developers, destinations and design teams confidently articulate what makes their place different.
Get in touch for a complimentary session to diagnose what your team needs.
     
DEVELOPERS
You need to create a collective vision to make this place standout and bring on board your stakeholders

We offer…
Insight
Place Foresight
Cultural Insight
+
Imagination
Vision Co-Definition
Design Concepts
+
Impact
Engagement Strategies
Design Briefs
=
Place Playbook

DESTINATIONS
You need to define your unique proposition to attract a wider audience

We offer…
Insight
Destination Foresight
Cultural Insight
+
Imagination
Vision Co-Definition
Experience Design Concepts
+
Impact
Destination Brand Identity
Curatorial Strategy
=
Destination Playbook

DESIGN TEAMS
You need to develop more influential stories about the places we’re creating
You need to stand out against the competition and communicate your ethos 

Clinics —
Place Identity Clinic 
Place Content Clinic
+
Storytelling Masterclass
+
Dispatches
Retained “in-house” storytelling studio 

PARTNERS

We partner with clients worldwide to add a cultural dimension and long-term value to the assets and places they develop. We integrate as an extension of your team, helping you establish places with provenance, enter new markets with local credibility, create greater civic impact and promote local distinctiveness.

Our team has worked with:

DEVELOPERS, MASTERPLANNERS, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS

  • JTP Architects & Masterplanners, London
  • Macgregor Coxall, Bristol & Sydney
  • Prior + Partners, London
  • Gillespies, London
  • Moreau Kusunoki Architects, Paris
  • Lendlease, London & Milan
  • HB Reavis, London
  • Battersea Power Station, London

DESTINATIONS & BRANDS

  • QIC Retail Real Estate, Australia
  • Museum of London, UK
  • Museum of Tomorrow, Brazil
  • Accor Hotels Asia Pacific
  • BMW UK
  • Google, Silicon Valley
  • Lavazza, Turin
  • Pernod Ricard, Ireland
  • Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

DESIGN TEAMS

  • Ralph Appelbaum Associates, London & NYC
  • The Future Laboratory, London
  • Vibrations Group, London
  • Squint Opera, London & NYC

TESTIMONIALS

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

TEAM

ROSANNA COVACICH

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.

  1. Home: London & Sydney
ROSANNA VITIELLO

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.

  1. Home: London & Mediterranean

WE BELIEVE IN

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.