Festival of Place, London, 2025
This July, Wembley’s BOXPARK became a hub for creative exchange as Festival of Place brought together some of the most forward-thinking voices in the built environment. From architects and engineers to developers and designers, the event was alive with conversation around one shared goal: creating places that truly work for people.
Sophie O’Sullivan | Senior Researcher, Woven Spaces
Hazelmead, Bridport
Sam Goss’ presentation on the Hazelmead co-housing development showcased how ambition, collaboration, and a strong sense of community can push the boundaries of what placemaking can achieve. Hazelmead was developed to address the critical shortage of affordable, sustainable, and community-oriented housing in Bridport, Dorset – a region where average house prices exceed 11 times the average local income.
“If you want an exceptional outcome, do something exceptional.”
Sam Goss, Founder Director, Barefoot Architects
Battersea Powerstation, London
Shevaughn Rieck, Partner at Farrells, shared the story behind Battersea’s Powerstation. Designed with a 100-year mindset, the project retained 80% of the original turbine hall, blending heritage and innovation in equal measure. Key points from the session included the return of a retired master bricklayer to restore the site’s imperial brickwork, alongside Åí20 million reinvested into the local economy and the creation of 1,000 new jobs — demonstrating how craftsmanship and community value go hand in hand.
“What we really need to do is have a conversation with people across the neurodiverse spectrum. To work with the whole community and figure out how the compromises are going to be worked out… The farmer doesn’t start by planting the seed. The farmer prepares the ground first and that tells them what kind of seeds they can plant. You have to nurture the plant and harvest the product. And then you prepare the ground for the following year. The idea of co-cultivation, within place-making, is a continuing process of talking with the community and learning from what you have and how to improve it. It is a never-ending but always improving process. And that is one of the best ways of having that continuing conversation and determining the kind of things we can actually do to enable people whose brain activity is such that we are designing them out of the system without thinking about it.”
Professor Nick Tyler, UCL, PEARL
(Person-Environment-Activity Research Laboratory)
Professor Nick Tyler brought a fresh perspective with histalk on neurodiversity and design, speaking about his work at PEARL, a research lab dedicated to understanding how people experience place. In his session, he referenced the ‘Design for the Mind’ guide developed by the British Standards Institute, as a starting point for inclusive placemaking. He also spoke about his fascinating work across London 20,000 bus stops — each a small but powerful opportunity to design for greater accessibility, comfort, and connection.
Professor Nick Tyler, UCL, PEARL talking at the Festival of Place
“The future city is essentially tiny… people relate to relatively small groups, in the fives and tens rather in the hundreds and thousands. When we take eight billion brains, think about and celebrate individuality and bring it together as a social connection, what we are talking about is how you make that connection between four or five people. And your city of ten billion is simply how to connect to those people to each other. To me, the future city is about connecting social spaces where sociality, the ability to greet, the ability to have a conversation of no meaning is what drives how we do it.”
Professor Nick Tyler, UCL, PEARL
(Person-Environment-Activity Research Laboratory)
The final session examined Wembley Park’s 20-year transformation, tracing its evolution from a single household in the 1990s to a vibrant mixed-use community today. The presentation underscored the original design brief’s core values — creative, people-first, pioneering, sustainable, and proud — principles rooted in legacy, inclusivity, and community that continue to guide the area’s growth. Wembley Park now stands as a model of how consistent vision and long-term stewardship can reshape a district and deliver lasting social value.
Wembley Park, London
A huge thank-you to James MacLeod and the Festival of Place team for curating an inspiring day of insight, debate, and shared learning. Here’s to building cities— and communities — that stand the test of time.
At Woven Spaces, these conversations resonate deeply. The belief that thoughtful design can shape meaningful experiences lies at the heart of our work — connecting people, places, and purpose. As the industry continues to evolve, Woven Spaces remains committed to creating exceptional environments where people can thrive.