Placemaking is an approach to urban design and planning that focuses on creating meaningful, inclusive and vibrant public spaces. Good developers can turn physical spaces into places that foster community engagement, cultural identity, social interaction and a strong sense of belonging. Good Placemaking is community centered, involving local people, context sensitive, reflecting unique culture and history of a place. It’s often multi functional, supporting social, recreational, cultural and economic activities. Aesthetic and welcoming enabling comfort, safety and accessibility. And of course, Sustainable and adaptable, evolving with the needs of the community.

Placemaking Photography, New Union Wharf shot for the Hill Group. Pic: Nick Turpin

Photography is a powerful tool to capture and communicate successful placemaking, a photographer with an eye for both people and architecture can record the human interaction with buildings and spaces, showing people using, passing through and engaging with the built environment in a way that highlights the spaces social value and effectiveness. Photography can reveal a places identity and cultural richness, capturing markets, signage, murals, public artworks and amenities. From an architects point of view, placemaking photography can showcase the successful use of materials, lighting, landscaping and seating that make a space welcoming and functional. On a subtle level, photography can evoke feelings, safety, joy, nostalgia, unity, that help audiences understand why a place matters to people.

Once a derelict wharf, London Docklands has become a thriving residential, retail and tourist destination. Pic: Nick Turpin

Placemaking is about shaping spaces that truly serve and reflect the people who use them. Photography complements this by visually storytelling these transformations and human experiences, making the intangible values of place more visible and compelling.

Bywater Properties McLellen Works in Glasgow has spawned a thriving creative and small business community whilst maintaining the heritage of the original grand departments store that locals had affection for. Pic: Nick Turpin