Another great year at Festival of Place!

It was fantastic to see so many people getting stuck in, sharing ideas, and approaching the task with a system thinking mindset - exactly the kind of interconnected thinking we believe is essential. 

Shout out to the winning team name, Mydonella, named after Donella Meadows, the environmental scientist who introduced the idea of system thinking. A brilliant, creative name! 

The workshop sparked interesting conversations about the challenges that come with working in silos - and how taking a more connected, collaborative approach can lead to better outcomes for the planet, people and places. 

After the workshop, team Civic made the most of the festival, which was packed with thought-provoking talks and important discussions (and some amazing food!). A few highlights for us were: 

• Professor Sir Michael Marmot shared his research on the link between place and health - showing how the conditions we live, work, and grow up in shape health outcomes, and how Marmot Cities are working to reduce avoidable health inequalities.
• The Net Zero and Decarbonisation panel, chaired by our Leeds director Leah Stuart, explored how we need to embed low-carbon thinking from day one - from design to delivery - if we want to meet climate targets at scale.
• How Cities Keep Failing Women After Dark, a powerful reminder that if places don’t feel safe and inclusive for everyone, they aren’t truly working. Designing with equity in mind is non-negotiable.
• Our London director Gareth Atkinson, alongside Basil Demeroutis and Tom Webster, shared how system thinking and collaboration enabled the reuse of 40 tonnes of 1930s steel from a retrofit project on Oxford Street - a great example of the circular economy mindset making real, measurable impact. 

The day was a good reminder that none of these issues - whether it's climate, health, or safety - can be tackled in isolation. It takes collaboration, different perspectives, and a willingness to do things differently. 

Thanks to The Developer and Festival of Place for bringing together so many great minds. 

 We’re already looking forward to next year!