In this episode with Despina Katsikakis, Global Lead on Total Workplace at Cushman & Wakefield, we covered a range of topics including the changing nature of work, workplace strategy, what the Gen Z generation want from workspaces & neighbourhoods, the socialisation of places and the inclusiveness of cities.

“If you are in real estate, you are actually in hospitality.”

This episode, which coincides with the reopening of Wilton Park, explores the importance of biodiversity and the role that green spaces play in cities.

Our Chief, Niall Gaffney, sits down with Robert Townshend of Townshend Landscape Architects and Tom O’Mahony from Maylim, both leaders in award-winning landscape design. They share their experiences in delivering major city-scale placemaking projects in developments such as King’s Cross and Regents Place in London, and most recently in Wilton Park Dublin.

“What we are collectively delivering at Wilton Park is only the beginning, we now need to let it develop and evolve in line with the demands of the city. Delivering green space is one thing. How you manage it is as important.”

On this episode, IPUT’s CEO Niall Gaffney and Head of Research Marie Hunt are joined by Peter Murray, OBE, co-Founder of New London Architecture (NLA) and founder of the London Festival of Architecture. We cover a range of topics including lessons those designing and shaping cities can learn from the city of London on delivering impactful and engaging public realm and placemaking.

“You can’t discern between public and private responsibility when curating public spaces. Equally, you can’t deliver great vision without pragmatic leadership.”

This episode focusses on the important role that art and culture play in the vitality and regeneration of cities. Gemma Dean, from the Creative Land Trust in London and Patrick Murphy from Dublin’s RHA discuss a range of topics with Niall including the need to provide permanent workplaces for the creative arts, funding models, public & private sector collaboration, harnessing philanthropy, and the specifications of ideal creative workplaces.

“Creative communities should be part of the fabric of the city, but hope is the currency of the arts.”

Alice Charles is the Director of Cities, Planning & Design at Arup and former Lead on Cities at the World Economic Forum. This episode considers the importance of looking outward for inspiration in relation to the stewardship of cities and city neighbourhoods and the need to take a long-term holistic view when imagining a city’s competitive advantage.

“You can change the political system but if you don’t also change the civil service system to reflect the future needs of the city, you are not going to achieve radical change.”

Ben is a Bloomberg Distinguished Fellow in Government Innovation and a Director of the European Cities Programme at The London School of Economics and Political Science. This episode covers city management and the role that cities play from an economic and sustainability perspective. It also discusses living in cities, which cities are doing public realm well, the role of branding, and the significance of directly elected mayors.

“The outcomes you get when people managing cities are empowered and skilled are so beneficial.”

Camilla is the Research Lead at Hassell and Barney is a Director of Place Research, Strategy, and Impact at PRD. Listen here to learn about their work on IPUT’s Making Impact report, a longitudinal study that speaks to everyone focussed on reimagining and reinvigorating cities.

“Understanding how people are using and benefitting from places is critical to successful planning.”

Dan Shannon is the Managing Partner of MdeAS Architects and Brad Zizmor is the Co-Founder of Architecture Plus Information. Here they are discussing building design and the urban landscape in Dublin and New York. 

“There are only two things to think about – the past and the future. If architects think about the present, we are dead.”