APPROACH

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

People value places that mean something to them. Drawing on urban research, foresight and cultural mapping we use narrative and cultural strategies to unlock the power of a place – defining what makes a place meaningful and articulating place identity.

We partner with innovative clients worldwide to add a human, cultural dimension and long-term value to the places they develop – guiding them to enter markets with local credibility, generate civic impact, and attune to local distinctiveness.

WHAT WE DO

Our Process

INSIGHT

Looking out in the world and on the ground to uncover local identity and place opportunities.

  • Futures Insights
  • Cultural Research
  • Revelation Routes

IMAGINATION

Developing strategic frameworks and future-fit visions to inform decision-making.

  • Narrative + Vision Workshops
  • Futures Frameworks
  • Placemaking Strategy
  • Experience Design 
  • Co-Production

IMPACT

Developing concrete action-plans and assets to turn place visions into reality.

  • Destination Playbook
  • Creative Communication
  • Masterclasses

 

Our Output

DESTINATION PLAYBOOK: FUTURE PLACE VISIONING

We translate insight into powerful place visions by creating guidelines and principles – mapping out how the narrative thread is applied to architecture 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 programming, brand identity, film, photography, illustration, poetry, experience design or digital experiences.

MASTERCLASSES: 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.

PARTNERS

Our ethos is built on collaboration.

From Thamesmead to Tian Fu, we work alongside expert teams, stakeholders, local communities and cultural correspondants to draw out their innate understanding of a place.

Our team has worked with:

Design Studios, Architects, Landscape Architects
Adjaye Associates, London
Asif Khan, London
Art Hub, Milan
Atelier Masomi, Niger
Allison Brooks Architects, London
BIG, Copenhagen
DRMM, London
Gillespies, London
H Bros, China
Jump Studios + Populous, London
JA Projects, London
JTP Masterplanners, London
Marc Kohler Architects, Amsterdam
Macgregor Coxall, Bristol & Sydney
Moreau Kusunoki Architects, Paris
Prior + Partners, London
Protein Studios, Amsterdam
RAA, London + NYC
Schultz + Grassov, Copenhagen
Squint Opera, London
Turner Works, London
Wilkinson Eyre, London
West 8, Rotterdam and New York

Destinations and Brands
Snaefellsnes Regional Park, Iceland
Katla UNESCO Geopark, Iceland
Google, Silicon Valley
Pernod Ricard, Ireland
Glenturret, Scotland
Marlow Film Studio, UK

Organisations
Bristol City Council, UK
Arts University Bournemouth, UK
Central St Martin’s College of Art and Design, University of the Arts, London
National Museums Liverpool
Art Hub

Investors and Developers
Battersea Power Station, London
H Bros, China
HB Reavis, UK
Kennedy Wilson, Dublin
Lendlease, London & Milan
Old Oak & Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC), UK
Peabody, UK
Starwood Capital, Europe

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

TEAM

ROSANNA VITIELLO

ROSANNA VITIELLO
Bureau Chief

Rosanna Vitiello creates places with purpose. Guiding deep research into places and destinations she reveals their cultural potential and distinctiveness. With close to 20 years international experience, she’s an expert in place research interpreting the local essence of a place into striking narrative, public realm and experience design. As a creative director she has developed visions and place identities for many of the world’s leading cultural districts, natural destinations and urban developments, from Rio de Janiero, Brazil to Chengdu, China. She maintains a role as a Research Associate at Central St Martins, London.

  1. Home: London & Mediterranean
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 & Brisbane
Tess Redburn

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.

  1. Home: London & Bristol
Pauline Malaquin

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.

  1. Home: Manchester & 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.

CONTACT

chiefs@theplacebureau.com

ROSANNA VITIELLO
(UK + Europe + East Coast USA) 

ROSANNA COVACICH
(Australia + APAC + West Coast USA)