Kaspar Studio
We’re a placemaking studio. We collaborate with investors, developers and consultants, and operators to create thriving ecosystems. Vibrant, distinctive places across residential, commercial, mixed use, and hospitality, that people want to live, work, and spend time in.
MANIFATTURA TABACCHI | FIRENZE | IT We distilled Florence's creative energy into a strategy for this 110,000m² former industrial complex, spanning public realm, workplace, residential, retail, F&B.
THE OUTSIDE | DEVON | UK Through in-depth, hyperlocal research, we defined how an 8000m² agricultural site could become a thriving rural community centre. Shortlisted for the RIBA-J MacEwen award: Architecture For the Common Good (2023)
BLOOMBERG CORP. | GLOBAL We supported Bloomberg Philanthropies (Bloomberg Connects Arts and Culture) to map access to arts and culture across eight major global cities, and identify opportunities to widen it through philanthropic activity.
BERLIN | DE We researched and developed numerous use scenarios for this 56,500m² former department store, inspiring design and commercial strategy for its reuse.
PUDDLE DOCK | LONDON | UK We defined a vision for this 130,000 m² site, aligning it with the City of London's objectives and bringing all stakeholders around a core strategy that incorporated public realm, workplace, residential, retail, F&B.
LANGA'S BAR | LONDON | UK Through deep archival research and creative ideation, we redefined the hedonism that had characterised the iconic Langan's Bar for the 21st century, informing all aspects of design, experience, and promotion.
RED SEA | KSA Through interrogation of client briefs and deep cultural research, we supported architectural teams with strategies for competitions for numerous Red Sea hospitality sites
JEDDAH | KSA We developed a cross-disciplinary workshop for a major Red Sea development, aligning all stakeholders around a core strategy and vision and worked through implications for masterplan, programming, and design principles
MASDAR CITY | UAE We supported Masdar City to communicate its sustainability credentials through promotional materials at COP28.
MAHANAKHON | BANGKOK | THAILAND We defined how the Orient Express brand should be articulated in the context of Bangkok, informing all aspects of the hospitality experience.
Our Approach
We believe successful place strategy is driven by four key factors, whatever stage of the design and build process we get involved.
Depth
We see going deep as necessary for rising high. Deep research and insight is at the core of what we do, with place strategy situated in in-depth data and research into place and people, taking into account spatial, historical, economic, and cultural contexts. We help the organisations we work with turn information into insight and direction, so data becomes fuel instead of friction.
Dialogue
We see placemaking as a process of listening and aligning, creating ideas that bring together backers, builders, and users. Ideas that speaks to investors hungry for growth as much as people hungry for meaning. A clear language that everyone can speak, a single direction that everyone can take.
Divergence
We help our clients take the right risks. Concrete actions that build meaningful experiences. With ideas that represent giant leaps towards project goals, rather than small, familiar steps.
Durability
Sustainable places are built on durable ideas. They don’t chase quick wins and passing trends. They confidently stride towards a goal they believe in without losing sight of it. We develop big, insightful ideas that guide their every step, everyday, year after year. Those ideas build durable communities, nurture the planet, and drive sustained returns too.
Our Story
Kaspar Studio is led by Leo Kaspar Simonsmith. Leo started his career in brand and creative strategy, working with clients including the BBC, Bloomberg, DeBeers, KraftHeinz, Nestlé and Nike, before moving into place strategy.
Kaspar Studio was established with the aim of applying the tools and frameworks of creative strategy to the built environment. Together with a network of specialist collaborators, Leo has since worked with investors, developers, architects, interior designers and placemaking agencies on projects across mixed use, residential, workplace, and hospitality. He has also collaborated with institutions including the Architecture Foundation, the Society of Architectural Historians, the London School of Architecture, and the Twentieth Century Society, and led placemaking strategy for the EMEA region at Woods Bagot architects. Leo has been recognised as an important emerging voice in design, featuring in the ‘Dwell 24’ list of emerging designers (2024), and ‘House & Garden Design 100: The people, products, places and ideas shaping the world of contemporary design today’ (2025).
Under Kaspar Studio Leo has assembled a network of specialists who together have delivered clear vision and strategic direction on numerous client projects.