“The Cultural Index: The Future of the Connected Experience” continued in London at Tishman Speyer’s Angel Square space, presented in partnership with Genesys. The conversation series, delving into technology’s role in community building, this time delivered a conversation with director Josie Rourke, whose work is Olivier Award-winning and BAFTA and Oscar-nominated, alongside acclaimed actor Jenna Coleman.
The Locale: Centrally located above Angel Tube Station, Angel Square is Tishman Speyer’s newest London development, featuring over 18,000 square feet of workspace complemented by sweeping city views, terraces, and a dynamic placement in a buzzing neighborhood. A frequent topic of conversation was the thrumming theater scene of the Islington neighborhood and unique cultural makeup of Angel Square’s stomping grounds.
The Crowd: Guests in the audience included Councillor Claire Zammit; entrepreneurs Xavier Cadiou, Susan Boster, Seyi Akiwowo and Debbie Wosskow; curator Lucinda Hicks; designer Maarten Slendebroek; writer William Eccleshare; and arts patron Marcia Balisciano.
Food & Drink: Breakfast was sourced from nearby Ottolenghi, a restaurant known for its Mediterranean-inspired dishes and special integration of seasonal ingredients. The dishes were served on long tables decorated by Maison Margaux, lined with hydrangeas and greenery inspired by the building terrace landscaping and industrial venue.
Memorable Moment: During the panel’s progression discussing cultural pillars in the neighborhood like the Almeida and Sadler’s Wells Theatres, Rourke looked out at the sweeping view, noting the Globe Theatre as a historic act of innovation for its time, sparking dialogue about the developments prompted by a given era’s modern technology. Coleman, for her part, noted, “It’s the sense of the old mixed with the modernity of the new … this neighborhood holds its past and its future in the same breath.”
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