018 - Architecture That Travels: From Expos to Olympics with ES Global

What if buildings didn’t just get demolished, but were moved, reused, and reborn?In this episode of Talking Place, Tanisha Raffiuddin ‘talks place’ with Olly Watts (Joint CEO) and Amy Casterton (Business Development Director) of ES Global, the company pioneering relocatable, modular architecture for some of the world’s biggest stages - from World Expos and Olympic Games to the ABBA Voyage arena in East London. Together, they dive into the fascinating world of delivering demountable structures for global events, and how reusable and relocatable architecture is reshaping the future of events, cities, and the circular economy.In this episode, you’ll learn: 🟣 How World  Expos and Olympic pavilions can become catalysts for innovation and legacy in construction 🟣 The challenges of delivering multiple national pavilions across cultures, time zones, and politics on projects like the Osaka World Expo 2025 🟣 What it takes to build high-quality, code-compliant venues designed to move and adapt to new locations 🟣 How projects like the ABBA Voyage arena and the Jakarta International Velodrome prove that circular design can leave a lasting cultural impactAbout Our Guests:Olly Watts is Joint CEO and co-founder of ES Global, leading its global expansion from music touring roots to landmark projects across Expos, Olympics, and beyond.Amy Casterton is Business Development Director at ES Global, focused on forging partnerships and new opportunities across the company’s international offices in the UK, Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and the US.Resources & Links Mentioned:Osaka Expo 2025: https://www.expo2025.or.jp/en/ABBA Voyage: https://abbavoyage.comWhether you’re a developer, designer, or urbanist curious about the future of the built environment, this episode reveals how architecture can travel, and how reuse and modular design are redefining placemaking on a global stage.Join the Conversation:What role should reusable, relocatable architecture play in shaping our cities?Share your thoughts with us on Instagram or LinkedIn @TalkingPlacePodcast with the hashtag #TalkingPlacePodcast🔗 Links & Mentions:ES Global: https://esglobal.co.ukOlly WattsLinkedin: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/olly-watts-78059635Amy CastertonLinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/amy-casterton-85aa0926To learn more about the host Tanisha Raffiuddin – visit here:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tanishaaWebsite: www.conceptculture.coTwitter: @tanisha.rrInstagram: @tanisha.rrTo learn more about Talking Place – visit here:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcastWebsite: https://www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcastInstagram: @talkingplacepodcastX (Twitter): @tppodcast_Bluesky: @talkingplaceTikTok: @talkingplacepodcastTo learn more about Concept Culture – visit here:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-ukWebsite: www.conceptculture.coTwitter:Support the showTo learn more about host Tanisha Raffiuddin:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tanisharaffiuddin/Website: www.conceptculture.coInstagram: @tanisha.rrTo learn more about Talking Place:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/talking-place-podcastWebsite: www.conceptculture.co/talking-place-podcastInstagram: @talkingplacepodcastBluesky: @talkingplaceTikTok: @talkingplacepodcastTo learn more about Concept Culture:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/concept-culture-ukWebsite: www.conceptculture.coSign Up to Our Newsletter — mailchi.mp/conceptculture/newslettersignup