Creating meaning, identity and community through cultural placemaking

Chris Fox, Interloop, 2017. (Wynyard Station, Sydney) Commissioned by Novo Rail Program Alliance for Transport for NSW - photo by Josh RaymondUrbis and Cultural Capital, cultural advisors and art producers for government and the development industry, are excited to announce they have formally entered a Strategic Partnership.

The partnership fuses Cultural Capital’s expertise in the emerging field of cultural placemaking with Urbis’ established planning, design and economic capabilities. Together they create a new offer to the development industry; enabling places of every scale to be shaped in human-centric ways that create meaning, identity and community, underpinned with sound planning and innovative urban design.

The partnership’s potential has been proven over the last eighteen months with the successful delivery of a number of collaborative projects including the Dunwich (Goompi) Master Plan for the Queensland Government, Transform BNE for Brisbane City Council and Oceanside for Stockland.

The formalising of a strategic partnership agreement will strengthen our ability to provide fresh thinking and innovation to the market.  Our unique combination of skills, experience, culture and knowledge will be directly applied to the challenges our clients are facing. It underpins both firm’s belief in the importance art and creative expression play in the contemporary urban landscape.

“Urban development is making a steep turn toward the human-centric and place-based,” said Mark McClelland, co-founder of Cultural Capital and the firm’s creative director. “Cultural placemaking sits at the heart of contemporary approaches to the urban landscape. Working with Urbis expands the scope of our mutual opportunities to bring meaning to our places, towns and cities.”

Some of Cultural Capital’s notable recent projects include the transformation of Wynyard Station into Sydney’s newest cultural destination with projects like Wynscreen and Interloop. Also showcased is the world-class tourism, recreation, lifestyle and event destination, Howard Smith Wharves, in which Urbis played a key role in delivering.

“The spotlight on vibrant, sustainable and liveable cities has come with an increased focus on place and the quality of public amenity,” said Benjamin Pollack, Chief Executive Officer Urbis. “We’re thrilled to formalise our relationship with Cultural Capital and believe their skills, combined with Urbis expertise will bring a new depth of cultural understanding and celebration of art in the public realm to shape better cities and communities.”

For more information, visit: www.culturalcapital.city or www.urbis.com.au for details.

Image: Chris Fox, Interloop, 2017. (Wynyard Station, Sydney) Commissioned by Novo Rail Program Alliance for Transport for NSW – photo by Josh Raymond