27: Suzana Bishop, Fed Square

Today on the FreeThinking Podcast, we speak with James Boyce - Founder and CEO of Grumpy Sailor - Creators of adventurous, innovative and unforgettable experiences!   James speaks of the 'Immersive Experience Industry' - and using powerful examples from their work with organisations-brands-and-cities - we dig into the opportunity for more creative collaborations across the whole ecosystem of policy-funding-design-delivery... Big stuff!   Tune in for Episode 31 of the FreeThinking Podcast & do make sure you subscribe wherever you get yours.     FEATURING Adam Scott, Founder, FreeState James Boyce, Founder, Grumpy Sailor

Today on the FreeThinking Podcast we have architect, designer, artist, teacher and conductor of urban narratives - Nigel Coates!   We discuss the power of drawings and how they are tools for catalysing experiences. We “mesh and weave” the components of his many projects, from design influences to mythology to raw materials. We talk about giants – a magical allegory for the spirit of cities.   And we discuss his new book ‘Lives in Architecture’! We've added the link in the comments if you want to take a look.   A joyous conversation that flows like one of his x-ray drawings!   Tune in for Episode 30 of the FreeThinking Podcast & do make sure you subscribe wherever you get yours.

Today on the FreeThinking Podcast we have Roger Black, Creative Director for Ballymore Property Group. Roger is a visionary leader across the board; Strategy, Design, Communications & Experience... all our favourite things!   With great care he talks about the conception and delivery of some iconic mixed-use London projects; City Island, Goodluck Hope, Embassy Gardens - and critically, how to flip the model and bake in social infrastructure from the very beginning, ensuring every step is optimised to inspire deep participation.   Listen in for Episode 29 of the FreeThinking Podcast & do make sure you subscribe wherever you get yours!

Today’s guest on the FreeThinking Podcast is James Parkinson - Senior Programme Manager for Regeneration & Economic Development for The Greater London Authority - and a great champion for innovation, participation, and design quality across London's 600 High Streets!   We talk about building social resilience at a local level - crowdsourcing city-making innovation - and what the real enablers of sustainable regeneration look like.   Join us for Episode 28 of the FreeThinking Podcast & do make sure you subscribe wherever you get yours!

Today on the FreeThinking Podcast, we speak with Suzana Bishop, Chief Experience Officer for Federation Square in Melbourne.   We hear about the public being the true owners of the space - how the community rose up against the giants that compromised the spirit of the square - and how a more experimental approach is forging a more energetic cultural dialogue between place and people.   Tune in for Episode 27 of the FreeThinking Podcast & do make sure you subscribe wherever you get yours!

Today on the podcast it’s our pleasure to speak with Beth Hise, Project Director for Sydney Living Museums - and a wonderful storyteller.   Beth shows us the importance of social infrastructure to hold the space for community and connection and discusses how the immersive experience creates meaning in place. We are then transported to Paramatta's Female Factory in Sydney, Australia; an upcoming project honouring the deeply emotional and complex history it emerges from.   Settle in for Episode 26 of the FreeThinking Podcast & do make sure you subscribe wherever you get yours!

In May, Adam was in Melbourne and fortunate enough to visit a major new 'contemporary arts incubator' called Collingwood Yards... A veritable melting pot of community creativity, a place that exudes openness and dynamism with every step!   We are overjoyed to be joined by Sophie Travers - CEO of Collingwood Yards - who is going to tell us all about it. She speaks with us about how Collingwood Yards is led by their tenants, artists and community and how that creates a unique space with a rich overlap of activities and people. We learn about the beginnings of Collingwood Yards and glimpse in to its future, understanding their function and desire to be a space that is full of life and open for all.   Join us for Episode 25 of the FreeThinking Podcast & do make sure you subscribe wherever you get yours!

'Bulldoze the high street and build a giant park - Is Stockton the future of Britain?' So ran the headline in The Guardian last February... But why?   Let's ask a real hero of ours; Neil Schneider - former Chief Executive at Stockton upon Tees Borough Council and someone who real knows how to inspire change at a city scale!   Neil tells us the story of how Stockton-on-Tees came to be the canary in the mine of High Street revival, in the face of a burgeoning large-scale mall culture. He leans in to the town’s history and people, and in doing so, creates a mixed bag of unforgettable festival moments and a community that fell back in love with its town.   Tune in for Episode 24 of the FreeThinking Podcast & do make sure you subscribe wherever you get yours!

Today on the FreeThinking Podcast we have stellar connector Will Chamberlain; founder of Creative Wick and the Cultural Interest Group in London, UK.   We spoke with Will about how he and a growing network are establishing a permanent sustainable creative community in East London's Hackney Wick and Fish Island - and particularly how creative activism and the sharing economy can advance the arts and culture in the face of rabid commercialism.   Will speaks to us ahead of the School of Activism Forum; a day of presentations, workshops, talks and debate about youth-centred neighbourhood activism, run by Creative Wick. He is a key figure in the development of Hackney Wick and Fish Island and a catalyst for art and culture for future generations of East London communities.   Catch Episode 23 of the FreeThinking Podcast & subscribe wherever you get yours!

Today on The FreeThinking Podcast we have Ben Gattie. Ben is the Founder and CEO of The Triple P Group, a neighbourhood building platform in Singapore, which began with a trailblazing community hub called The Working Capitol.   From humble beginnings, The Working Capitol emerged (figuratively and literally) from the concept of shop houses; professional spaces on the ground floor, living spaces above. This blend of working environments with lifestyle elements reflects Ben’s “neighbourhood-approach to real estate”, working in to the identity, nuances and existing community framework. Ben shares his ideas on programming a neighbourhood and how their success is his success – a participatory approach that speaks to true cocreation and enhances people, place and purpose beyond the walls of any property and in to the community.   Come together for Episode 22 of the FreeThinking Podcast & subscribe wherever you get yours!