Specialists in the science & alchemy of placemaking

This Must Be The Place

A one-stop, plug-in,
tailored placemaking resource.

 
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AN unrivalled resource

SPECIALISTS IN THE SCIENCE & ALCHEMY OF PLACEMAKING.

This Must Be The Place is a unique, interdisciplinary placemaking consultancy. We bring extensive design, event, brand activation, marketing, comms and property experience to each project.

We provide tailored placemaking services, supporting innovative developers, landlords, local authorities and BIDs to achieve their ambitions in creating and sustaining places where communities flourish and people thrive (all while fulfilling our clients’ obligations).

We specialise in place, catalyst and meanwhile strategies and their implementation - off-setting costs and generating revenue for our clients through contextual visions, considered programming, curated partnerships and the commercial management of spaces. 

We also curate cultural and enlivenment programmes; create brand platforms and identities; write and facilitate workshops and design charettes; commission participatory art installations; run community engagements and deliver engaging event programmes. 

We are passionate about narratives and community, ensuring that both form the foundations of any work we undertake. Our work is inclusive and participatory, and driven by the desire to empower, support and foster the communities we work with.

We have influenced some of the UK’s most exciting regeneration projects, including Silvertown Quays, Mayfield Depot, Meridian Water, Euston Station, Smithfield Meat Market, Birmingham Smithfield, Better Queensway (Southend) and Croydon town centre, helping our clients to redefine what is possible in the short, mid and long term.

Please get in touch to discuss how we can support you with your placemaking requirements.

 
 
We are experts in creating place strategies, establishing & enlivening destinations and fostering & supporting communities.
 
“Their fresh thinking, bold approach and extensive experience makes them one of the most exciting placemaking resources out there.”
— Martin Evans, Creative Director, U+I
 
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Radically transforming places through culture, commerce & community

THINK,
DO & MANAGE.

 

From strategic thinking to actual doing and managing of projects, we are at the forefront of what we term ‘commercial placemaking’ - a realistic, pragmatic and commercial approach to the activation of underused or unused places in the short, mid and long term.

We are working with a host of innovative clients on the UK’s most exciting development projects. 

Please see a selection of our projects below. Get in touch to learn more about how we are helping our clients to define and activate their spaces.

 
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Design charettes (design, production, facilitation, Management & reporting), Place vision Platform, Meanwhile cultural & Commercial strategies:
millennium Mills & Silvertown quays for lendlease

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Meanwhile & Cultural strategy for successful bid:
Birmingham Smithfield For lendlease

MEANWHILE ENLIVENMENT: Museum of youth Culture, Leeds International festival for Leeds BID

Cultural, catalyst & Commercial Placemaking Strategy
& implementation:
Mayfield depot for u+i

Cultural Catalyst & Commercial Placemaking Strategy
& implementation:
Drumsheds, Meridian Water, for enfield council

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Brand Vision Campaign:
Elephant Park for lendlease

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Design charettes (design, production, facilitation, Management & reporting), & Place Vision strategy:
Euston Station for lendlease

DIGITAL ART strategy for successful bid:
Inaugural ‘Borough of culture’ for Waltham Forest

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critical friend: Guidance & consultation:
IQL North for Lendlease

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MEANWHILE ENLIVENMENT: Daydreaming with UNKLE exhibition, Leeds Dock, For Allied London

Public realm activation: Dragons & Ladders with the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds Dock

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meanwhile & Cultural strategy:Cambridge North, For U+I

Digital art installation by Squidsoup and Four TeT: Light Night Leeds / Leeds Dock

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Meanwhile use STrategy & Implementation:
Queen’s Square for R&F Properties

F&B enlivenment: Bierhaus with lowenbrau at London Road FireStation Manchester

Cultural programming and production: ‘Daydreaming with UNKLE’ multi-media exhibition for Leeds BID and Leeds Dock, Allied London

 
It has been great working with This Must Be The Place and Broadwick Live to establish and implement a culture strategy for Meridian Water. In just under a year we established a shared vision, developed the concept and worked tirelessly in a spirit of partnership working to deliver the Drumsheds London venue at the heart of the Meridian Water regeneration, and the hugely successful Field Day festival as the inaugural event.
— Peter George, Programme Director, Meridian Water, Enfield Council
 
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How we can help

Specialities
& Services

We provide tailored placemaking services, supporting innovative developers, landlords, local authorities and BIDs to achieve their ambitions in creating and sustaining places where communities flourish and people thrive (all while fulfilling their obligations).


PLACE, MEANWHILE, CULTURE, CATALYST & COMMERCIAL STRATEGIES.

MEANWHILE ACTIVATION & DESTINATIONAL ENLIVENMENT.

COMMERCIAL PLACEMAKING.

CREATION & DELIVERY OF WORKSHOPS & CHARRETTES.

CULTURAL & COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIPS.

CRITICAL FRIEND, GUIDANCE, PLACE BRIEFINGS & TOURS.


Promotional film for Silvertown Quays, for Lendlease


Enlivenment at Leeds Dock, for Allied London


 

Meanwhile & cultural strategy for Meridian Water, culminating in the creation of the Drumsheds culture venue, for Enfield Council
From this…

 

To This… the placement of the Field Day festival (commercial placemaking)

 

Please get in touch to find our how we can support you in curating, creating or regenerating places.

 

Squidsoup’s & Four Tet’s ‘Light Water, Dark Sky’ installation for Light Night Leeds and Leeds Dock, Allied London