Futurecity was appointed by Dominus Real Estate to deliver a Cultural Placemaking Masterplan for 65 Crutched Friars, a 21-storey development on the eastern edge of the City of London. The mixed-use scheme includes student accommodation, affordable housing, a publicly accessible roof terrace, cultural and community space, and public realm improvements—centred on long-term civic and cultural benefit.

Positioned between Aldgate and Tower Hill, the site connects to the City’s emerging cultural corridor and nearby institutions including Whitechapel Gallery, Rich Mix and the Barbican. Futurecity’s brief was to align the cultural strategy with the City’s Destination City agenda and planning policy—embedding culture throughout the site and into the public realm.

A defining success of the project was Futurecity’s brokering of a landmark partnership between Dominus and the Migration Museum, securing a new permanent home for the museum within the development. Set across the lower three floors, the 33,000 sq ft space will be provided rent-free for 60 years and includes exhibition galleries, event and learning spaces, and community amenities—ensuring significant cultural and social value for the City.

Working alongside 3XN Architects, the City of London, and Kanda, Futurecity developed a strategy that connects architectural and social heritage with inclusive cultural narratives. The masterplan supports storytelling, post-colonial perspectives and cross-cultural dialogue, positioning the site as a new civic anchor.

Key outputs included a cultural vision, stakeholder engagement programme, and recommendations for partnerships, programming, and phased delivery. The strategy lays the foundation for a future Cultural Implementation Plan and a connected cultural destination in the Square Mile.