Talking Place

Tanisha Raffiuddin

Welcome to Talking Place  The podcast that brings placemakers and storytellers together to talk about what makes a good place. The Talking Place podcast is your go-to podcast for exploring the power of storytelling in shaping narratives and identities for neighbourhoods, towns, cities, and nations. Join your host, Concept Culture’s Creative Director Tanisha Raffiuddin, as she talks with experts across the built environment, sharing their knowledge and stories on placemaking, branding, sustainability, language, finance, health, culture, and more. Whether you are an investor, developer, urban designer, architect, planner, marketeer, or simply curious about places and stories, this podcast is for you.Listen to our latest episodes of Talking Place and join the conversation on social media! Follow us on: Instagram: @talkingplacepodcastLinkedIn: Talking Place PodcastBluesky @talkingplaceTikTok: @talkingplacepodcast Web: www.conceptculture.coHost: Tanisha Raffiuddin Produced by: Concept Culture 

  1. Know Your Neighbourhood: Fitzrovia | London Festival of Architecture 2026

    2d ago

    Know Your Neighbourhood: Fitzrovia | London Festival of Architecture 2026

    What makes a neighbourhood feel like home? In this episode of Talking Place's Know Your Neighbourhood series, host Tanisha Raffiuddin visits Fitzrovia with Marcos Gold, Director of Policy and Place at The Fitzrovia Partnership. Recorded as part of the London Festival of Architecture's 2026 theme of Belonging, this conversation explores how one of central London's most dynamic neighbourhoods balances change, heritage and community. From hidden streets and independent businesses to stories of activism, public space and local identity, discover why Fitzrovia is often described as the place locals tell you to visit. In this episode you will discover: • Why Fitzrovia feels different from other central London neighbourhoods • The power of discovery in shaping memorable places • What belonging means in a constantly changing city • Fitzrovia's connection to Princess Diana and AIDS activism • Why green space matters for urban wellbeing • The role of people in creating successful places Know Your Neighbourhood is produced in partnership with the London Festival of Architecture 2026.  Five neighbourhoods.  Five conversations.  One question: what does it mean to belong? Chapters • 00:00 What is Fitzrovia? • 01:00 Where it sits in London • 02:00 What creates a sense of belonging • 03:20 The BT Tower & place identity • 04:00 Hidden restaurants & local favourites • 05:30 Discoverability & navigation • 07:20 Why people keep coming back • 09:00 Community & connection • 11:00 Fitzrovia’s untold history • 13:00 The future: green spaces & wellbeing Mentions: • BT Tower  • Fitzroy Square  • Charlotte Street  • Great Titchfield Street  • Alfred Place  • London Festival of Architecture  • Find Fitzrovia programme Subscribe to our channel for more conversations exploring the future of cities, placemaking and belonging. Support the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website - https://www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website - https://www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — https://mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup

    18 min
  2. E28: Be More Bradford: What Happens When a City Designs for Health

    5d ago

    E28: Be More Bradford: What Happens When a City Designs for Health

    85% of our health is determined by non-clinical factors. So why does the built environment remain an afterthought in most public health conversations?  In this episode of Talking Place, recorded live at the Bradford Showcase at UKREiiF 2026, Tanisha sits down with three people who are making the evidence-based case for healthier cities - and delivering it. Professor Rosie McEachan (Director, Born in Bradford) shares landmark data from one of Europe's largest longitudinal health studies - including the finding that one in three children's asthma cases in Bradford are directly attributable to traffic-related air pollution. Abigail Scott Paul (Global Head of Humanise Campaign, Heatherwick Studio) makes the neuroscience case for why bland buildings are a public health emergency. James Almond (Managing Director, P+HS Architects) brings the delivery reality - including a £65m mental health hospital in Bradford that is already changing how an NHS trust operates. Together, they tackle the big structural question: where is the power sitting that is preventing the change that needs to happen? CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction 1:10 Guest introductions 2:40 What Born in Bradford reveals about place and health 6:20 How healthcare design changes behaviour: the sexual health clinic case study 8:50 What design decisions genuinely improve health outcomes 10:40 The Humanise Campaign: buildings, neuroscience and visual stress 13:20 How Bradford's city centre transformation is already changing lives 18:10 Leadership, long-term thinking and why Bradford's pedestrianisation was worth the fight 24:15 Bradford teenagers: reaching a tipping point in civic pride 28:10 Where is the power sitting that's blocking change? 34:40 Final thoughts: one message for decision-makers Join the Conversation Your city is shaping your health every single day. What would it take to build somewhere that actually works for people's wellbeing? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram or LinkedIn @TalkingPlacePodcast using #TalkingPlacePodcast Links & Mentions Invest in Bradford - https://www.investinbradford.com/ Born in Bradford - https://borninbradford.nhs.ukP+HS Architects - www.pandhs.co.ukHumanise Campaign - https://www.humanisecampaign.orgBradford Council - https://www.bradford.gov.ukUKREiiF 2026 - https://www.ukreiif.comLinfield Mount mental health hospital, BradfordBradford City Centre pedestrianisationWest Yorkshire Mass TransitKing's Cross regeneration, LondonSupport the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website - https://www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website - https://www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — https://mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup

    37 min
  3. Know Your Neighbourhood: Alexandra Palace & Wood Green | LFA2026

    Jun 5

    Know Your Neighbourhood: Alexandra Palace & Wood Green | LFA2026

    What makes people feel they belong somewhere? In this episode of Talking Place, host Tanisha Raffiuddin visits Alexandra Palace and Wood Green as part of London Festival of Architecture's Know Your Neighbourhood series exploring the theme of belonging. Joined by Louise Johnson from the Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust, the conversation explores why ‘Ally Pally’ continues to hold such a special place in the hearts of Londoners more than 150 years after it first opened its doors. From its role as the birthplace of television to the memories created through concerts, family traditions and everyday walks in the park, Alexandra Palace reveals how places become part of our personal and collective identities. The episode also uncovers the hidden creative energy of Wood Green, from its cultural quarter to its remarkable concentration of music recording studios, highlighting a side of the neighbourhood that many visitors may not be aware of. Together, they discuss stewardship, heritage, creativity, public space and the responsibility of caring for places that generations of people call their own. Topics covered: • The story behind London's People's Palace  • Why belonging is built through shared memories  • Alexandra Palace's role in broadcasting history  • Hidden creative communities in Wood Green  • Heritage, sustainability and stewardship  • The importance of neighbourhood identity in London Plus, the rapid-fire round: best coffee, best view, the walk only locals know, and what you don't really understand about this neighbourhood until you've watched the sunset from the south terrace. Know Your Neighbourhood is a five-episode series exploring five London Festival of Architecture 2026 neighbourhoods through the lens of this year's theme: Belonging. If you've ever wondered why certain places stay with us long after we've left them, this episode and series are for you. If you've ever wondered why certain places stay with us long after we've left them, this episode is for you. Shownotes Welcome to Alexandra Palace & Wood Green What belonging means in a London neighbourhood The People's Palace and its civic mission  Why people keep returning to Ally Pally  Memories, milestones and emotional attachment  The hidden creative economy of Wood Green  The birthplace of television  Heritage skills and future stewardship  Sustainability and caring for future generations  Know Your Neighbourhood rapid-fire round About Our Guest  Louise Johnson is Head of Strategic Planning and Projects at Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust.  Links and Mentions  Alexandra Park and Palace Trust: https://www.alexandrapalace.com   North London Skate Club:  https://www.northlondonskateclub.com   London Festival of Architecture 2026:  https://www.londonfestivalofarchitecture.org   Under Many Flags mural by Matt Dosso  Ludos:  https://ludoslondon.co.uk/  Oita: https://www.oitarestaurant.com/woodgreen  Blue House Yard: https://www.bluehouseyard.com/  Wolves Lane: https://www.wolveslane.org/ Support the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website - https://www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website - https://www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — https://mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup

    17 min
  4. E27: Shaping Bradford: Heritage, Housing, and the Hard Yards of Regeneration

    Jun 2

    E27: Shaping Bradford: Heritage, Housing, and the Hard Yards of Regeneration

    Bradford is one of the UK's most talked-about regeneration stories and for good reason. With a demographic dividend, a stunning heritage canvas, and one of the boldest city centre transformation programmes in the country underway, Bradford is doing something different.  In this episode, recorded live at the Bradford Showcase at UKREiiF 2026 in Leeds, I sat down with three people right at the heart of making Bradford's next chapter happen. David Shepherd, Strategic Director for Growth at Bradford Council, the person responsible for the blueprint that's driving the city forward. Lisa Gledhill, Managing Director of National Partnerships at Muse and a Director of the English Cities Fund, the development partner behind Bradford City Village. And Niall Bourke, Associate Director at Arup, who's been watching Bradford City Centre transform over two decades of work on the ground.  We talk about what it means to make a market in a city at marginal viability, the art and hard work of public-private partnership, custodianship of heritage, of community, of momentum, and what it really takes to shape a city that works for everyone who lives in it.  Topics covered:  What Bradford is and why it's been underestimated The city's demographic dividend and what it means for economic growth What it means to be a Core City beyond the headline The Southern Gateway: 146 hectares and a chance to stitch communities back together Bradford City Village: transforming the old retail heart into 1,000 homes The viability challenge: Why Bradford is "making a market" What the Mirror Pool moment revealed about pent-up demand for great public space The Born in Bradford longitudinal study and how data is shaping housing and public realm decisions What makes a public-private partnership work: aligned values, shared objectives, and trust Final thoughts: vision, relentless drive, grit, determination, and humility About Our Guests  David Shepherd  Strategic Director for Growth at Bradford Council, where he leads the blueprint for delivering economic growth and built environment improvements across the district. A lifelong Bradfordian, David has spent the last three and a half years driving some of the city's most significant regeneration investment, from the pedestrianisation of the city centre to the Southern Gateway masterplan.  Lisa Gledhill  Managing Director of National Partnerships at Muse and a Director of the English Cities Fund (ECF), the development partner behind Bradford City Village. A Bradfordian by upbringing who built her career in London, Lisa brings over 25 years of experience in complex urban regeneration partnerships.  Niall Bourke  Associate Director at Arup, a global built environment consultancy. Based in Leeds, Niall has worked closely with Bradford Council and its partners for over two decades, including on Bradford City Park, one of the city's first major public realm investments.  Join the Conversation  Bradford is making a market, but what does it take to back a city before the market does?  Share your thoughts with us on Instagram or LinkedIn @TalkingPlacePodcast using #TalkingPlacePodcast  Links & Mentions  Bradford City Village - https://www.bradfordcityvillage.co.uk Invest in Bradford - https://www.investinbradford.com/showcasing-bradford/showcasing-bradford/  Muse Developments - https://www.muse.co.uk English Cities Fund (ECF) - https://www.englishcitiesfund.co.uk Arup - https://www.arup.com Bradford Council - https://www.bradford.gov.uk Born in Bradford - https://borninbradford.nhs.uk West Yorkshire Combined Authority - https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk UKREiiF 2026 - https://www.ukreiif.com Northern Powerhouse Rail Norfolk Gardens, Bradford Bradford City Park Airedale New Build Hospital Support the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website - https://www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website - https://www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — https://mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup

    35 min
  5. E26: Can We Design Out Danger? Spatial Justice, Safety & the Politics of Public Space with Deborah Saunt

    May 12

    E26: Can We Design Out Danger? Spatial Justice, Safety & the Politics of Public Space with Deborah Saunt

    What does it mean to design a city that's truly just? And can we actually design out danger? In this episode of Talking Place, host Tanisha Raffiuddin sits down with Deborah Saunt, founding director of award-winning London practice DSDHA, for a wide-ranging conversation on spatial justice, community-led design, the safety of women and girls in urban space, and what it means to build cities that work for everyone. Deborah brings the full weight of over 25 years in architecture and urban design to a conversation that moves from the deeply personal - feeling unwelcome as a 14-year-old girl walking through Belgravia - to the systemic: who writes the brief, who authors space, and who gets left out. Topics covered in this episode: •        What spatial justice actually means - and why 'public' doesn't always mean inclusive •        DSDHA's 'community is context' philosophy and their practice of always talking to at least 100 people before designing anything •        The Crabtree Fields restoration in Fitzrovia - a masterclass in co-design across 40 years •        Mobility as a right - and why London's transport funding model is failing its residents •        The male default in public space design, including hire bikes, lighting, and sightlines •        'Movement and view' - Deborah's practical framework for designing safe public spaces •        Regenerative design and the principle of being 'a good ancestor.' •        DSDHA's next chapter: extra-urban, the Scottish Highlands studio, and what comes after cities   Resources & Links: •        Deborah Saunt / DSDHA: https://dsdha.co.uk •        Towards Spatial Justice (RIBA-funded research): https://dsdha.co.uk/discourse/writing/towards-spatial-justice •        Make Space for Girls: https://www.makespaceforgirls.co.uk •        London School of Architecture: https://www.lsa.ac.uk   Talking Place is hosted by Tanisha Raffiuddin, Creative Director at Concept Culture.  New episodes every fortnight exploring placemaking, urban design, branding, and the stories behind the spaces we inhabit. Sign up for our newsletter: https://linkly.link/2ioti #SpatialJustice #UrbanDesign #Architecture #Placemaking #PublicSpace #TalkingPlacePodcast #ConceptCulture #DSDHA #DeborahSaunt Support the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website - https://www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website - https://www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — https://mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup

    1h 4m
  6. E25: Future of Cities - Power, Politics & Density with Patrik Schumacher

    Apr 28

    E25: Future of Cities - Power, Politics & Density with Patrik Schumacher

    Patrick Schumacher, Principal of Zaha Hadid Architects, joins Talking Place for a conversation that challenges some of the most settled assumptions in contemporary placemaking and urban design. From the claim that inclusiveness undermines rather than strengthens place identity, to the argument that London should house 30 million people and that the UK planning system is structurally incapable of delivering the homes the country needs, Patrik makes a case for a more specific, more curated, and more ambitious approach to the built environment. The conversation also ventures into the frontier of AI-powered architecture - not the image generation many are familiar with, but the deep technical work ZHA is doing to train machine learning models to understand structure, tectonics, and fabrication logic. And it closes with Patrik's vision for ZHA's Metrotopia: a virtual city that may reshape how communities form, how conferences run, and how architecture is experienced. Challenging, sensational, and dramatic - this is Talking Place at its most provocative. RESOURCES/ PROJECTS MENTIONED ●      Reinier de Graaf · Architect, Comma, Verb ●      Second Home · mixed-use workspace, London ●      DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza) · Seoul, ZHA ●      Heydar Aliyev Centre · Baku, ZHA ●      Galaxy SOHO · Beijing, ZHA ●      Vitra Fire Station · ZHA ●      ZHA Metrotopia · virtual city project ●      Prospera · charter city project, Honduras About Patrik Schumacher Patrik Schumacher is Principal of Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) and one of the leading theorists in contemporary architecture. The author of the two-volume treatise “The Autopoiesis of Architecture”, he is known for his unapologetic advocacy of parametricism and free-market urbanism. His latest book, ‘Tectonism – Architecture for the 21st Century’, was released in 2023. His current research and design interest is focused on the metaverse and the integration of real and virtual communication spaces. He received the European Architecture Award in 2025. Support the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website - https://www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website - https://www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — https://mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup

    1h 1m

  7. Season 3 Trailer

    Talking Place Season 3 Trailer

    Season 3 Trailer — Talking Place The conversations cities need. The ones the industry keeps avoiding. Season 3 of Talking Place is coming — and it's the most urgent series yet. From the economics of viability to the politics of inclusion. From women changing cities under threat to tactical urbanism in a war zone, with air raid sirens in the background. If you believe cities should be safer, smarter, and built for everyone — this season is for you. Follow Talking Place now with your host Tanisha Raffiuddin. Episodes dropping soon. Support the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website - https://www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website - https://www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — https://mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup

    3 min
  8. 024 - Why Retrofit Is the UK’s Most Urgent Climate and Housing Challenge with Anna Moore

    Jan 21

    024 - Why Retrofit Is the UK’s Most Urgent Climate and Housing Challenge with Anna Moore

    Retrofit is often framed as a technical challenge — but what if it’s actually about people, pride and place? In this episode, Anna Moore, founder of Domna, joins Talking Place to unpack why upgrading the homes we already live in is essential for tackling fuel poverty, improving health, and creating stronger communities. From the realities of funding and policy to the role of AI and community engagement, this is a grounded, hopeful conversation about how retrofit can reshape the UK’s housing future — one home at a time. About Our Guest Anna Moore is the Founder of Domna, a UK based retrofit company working across social, affordable, and private housing to improve energy efficiency, reduce fuel poverty, and create healthier homes. Before founding Domna, Anna spent a decade at McKinsey, where she was a Partner leading its UK construction and real estate practice and co-leading its European sustainability strategy. Domna operates at national scale, working on tens of thousands of homes each year and combining machine learning driven stock assessment with on the ground delivery. The company partners with housing associations, local authorities, investors, and community groups to turn retrofit into a viable, investable, and people centred solution. Anna is a passionate advocate for treating homes as critical social infrastructure and believes that creating value and creating values must go hand in hand if the UK is to meet its housing, climate, and social impact goals. Join the Conversation: What would it take to retrofit homes at scale while putting people first? How can better homes reshape health, dignity, and belonging? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram or LinkedIn @TalkingPlacePodcast using #TalkingPlacePodcast Support the show To learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/ Website: www.conceptculture.co Instagram: @tanisha.rr To learn more about Talking Place: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcast Website - https://www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcast Instagram: @talkingplacepodcast Bluesky: @talkingplace TikTok: @talkingplacepodcast To learn more about Concept Culture: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-uk Website - https://www.conceptculture.co Sign Up to Our Newsletter — https://mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup

    41 min
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Trailer

About

Welcome to Talking Place  The podcast that brings placemakers and storytellers together to talk about what makes a good place. The Talking Place podcast is your go-to podcast for exploring the power of storytelling in shaping narratives and identities for neighbourhoods, towns, cities, and nations. Join your host, Concept Culture’s Creative Director Tanisha Raffiuddin, as she talks with experts across the built environment, sharing their knowledge and stories on placemaking, branding, sustainability, language, finance, health, culture, and more. Whether you are an investor, developer, urban designer, architect, planner, marketeer, or simply curious about places and stories, this podcast is for you.Listen to our latest episodes of Talking Place and join the conversation on social media! Follow us on: Instagram: @talkingplacepodcastLinkedIn: Talking Place PodcastBluesky @talkingplaceTikTok: @talkingplacepodcast Web: www.conceptculture.coHost: Tanisha Raffiuddin Produced by: Concept Culture 

Information

  • Creator
    Tanisha Raffiuddin
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Talking Place
  • Show Website
    Talking Place

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