Futurecity developed a Cultural Placemaking Strategy for Crossharbour District Centre, a mixed-use scheme on the Isle of Dogs, commissioned by Ashbourne Beech. The strategy positions the District Centre as a social, economic and cultural hub, responding to the area’s community identity while connecting to the wider creative landscape emerging along the Thames Production corridor.

The approach set out how Crossharbour could draw on nearby formal and informal creative activity to build partnerships, support local participation and strengthen the area’s cultural ecology. Culture was framed as an organising principle for placemaking - informing public realm design, programming and long-term management rather than sitting as a standalone layer.

At the centre of the strategy is The Exchange, a new arts venue conceived as a community-facing cultural anchor. The Exchange is designed as a flexible set of creative spaces, including a 224-seat theatre, two adaptable studios and a restaurant/bar and event space, supporting a year-round programme of performances, exhibitions and community activity. Futurecity managed the operator search and partnership brokering process for The Exchange, assessing proposals against artistic vision, business viability, track record and commitment to community engagement.

Beyond The Exchange, the strategy proposed a coordinated programme of public artworks and embedded commissions across the District Centre, ensuring culture is visible and accessible throughout the public realm. Together, these elements establish a culture-led framework for Crossharbour that supports long-term value, local benefit and a distinctive sense of place.

Photography by Damon Cleary, site renders from CZWG