Last month, the global real-estate industry converged in Riyadh for Cityscape Global 2025, and we were excited to have our team make their mark on the occasion.
Robert Herrick, Stephen Mistretta, and Mattia Lusignani attended as representatives of VISUALHOUSE and NOVAVERSE, engaging in the rich dialogue at what is now positioned as one of the world’s pre-eminent built-environment gatherings.

Setting the scene

Held at the Riyadh Exhibition & Convention Centre from November 17-20, 2025, Cityscape Global brought together more than 170,000 real-estate professionals including developers, investors, regulators, designers and tech innovators.

With over 200 leading developers presenting residential, commercial and mixed-use projects, the scale and ambition of the show mirror Saudi Arabia’s push under its Vision 2030 agenda to become a global centre of architecture, master-planning and real-estate capital flows.

The agenda featured plenary sessions, four main stages including the ‘Future of Living Summit’, a ‘Developers & Architects’ (DnA) stage, and an Innovation Arena focused on PropTech, modular construction and sustainability.

Our team’s engagement

Robert, Stephen and Mattia engaged in a full spectrum of activities — from attending high-level panels, to meeting with master-developers and tech partners, and exploring investment opportunities in the Gulf and beyond.

• On the Future of Living Summit stage content, sessions ranged from housing policy, urban-masterplanning, global partnerships for city-building, to future-proofing through AI and modular construction.
• At the DnA – Developers & Architects Stage, there was a notable focus on how design firms and developers are collaborating to reshape cities, exploring new typologies from build-to-rent to mixed-use urban life.
• The Innovation Arena stood out as a magnet for forward-thinking firms; our team engaged with start-ups and established PropTech brands working on digital twin solutions, modular systems and AI in real-estate-asset-management—topics very much aligned with our own interests in innovation and real-estate technology.

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Why it matters for us

Cityscape Global 2025 was more than an exhibition — it is a vantage point from which to survey the changing geographies of real-estate, investment and design leadership. A few reflections:

• Geographic repositioning: Saudi Arabia is clearly accelerating as a real-estate and investment hub. The size and sophistication of the event reflect that shift; for our international development and design practice, this means paying attention to the Gulf not just as a resource market but as a site of leadership.
• Cross-disciplinary convergence: Real-estate, architecture, technology and entertainment are now intersecting in new ways: from smart cities to stadia, from modular housing to lifestyle-driven masterplans. Our presence allowed us to map which directions are gaining traction.
• Brand and network-value: Meeting with global and regional players—developers, investors, tech firms—underscores our ability to position our practice regionally and internationally. Robert, Stephen and Mattia returned with new contacts, renewed visibility and insight into partner-ecosystems.
• Innovation relevance: Given our interest in digital-twin platforms, modular architecture, and high-quality design, the show’s emphasis on PropTech, modular build, AI-driven asset-management and design for tomorrow confirmed that these themes are front-and-centre in global discourse.

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Looking ahead

In the coming months we’ll be leveraging the insights from Riyadh in a number of ways:

• Identification of new partnership opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa region — particularly with developers and tech firms encountered at the show.
• Integrating key themes into our project pipeline: for example, modular construction methods, adaptive design for mixed-use, digital-twin strategy and investment-ready masterplanning.
• Content creation: Robert, Stephen and Mattia will collaborate on follow-up thought-leadership pieces (blogs/webinars) capturing trends from the event, which will amplify our brand visibility and thought-leadership credentials.
• Strategic positioning of our services to align with what is now happening in the Gulf — not just as outsourced Delivery, but as design-and-innovation partners.

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Final word

Cityscape Global 2025 offered a powerful reminder that real-estate development is evolving at speed: global capital is redistributing, technology is rewriting what’s possible in built form, and design leadership is essential to creating places that matter. For our firm, the active participation in Riyadh was both a statement of intent and a strategic stepping stone.

We look forward to sharing more detailed reflections, which will unpack specific sessions, contacts and opportunities uncovered at the event — and how those insights will flow into our practice and upcoming projects.

Stay tuned for our next update — and in the meantime, if you’d like to connect about our participation or explore how we can help you succeed in this fast-moving environment, please drop us a note.

For new project inquiries, please email [email protected] with your project details. We look forward to hearing from you.

Twice a year, the city that never sleeps transforms into a giant catwalk where fashion mavens, influencers, and designers collide to set the tone for the upcoming season. As one of the most influential events in the fashion world, NYFW is where trends are born, and the buzz of creativity electrifies the air. 

This season, as designers from around the globe present their collections, it's not just about the garments that catch our eye—it's also about the striking venues that host these shows. From soaring skyscrapers to reimagined historic spaces, New York City itself becomes a living runway. 

Over the years, VISUALHOUSE has played a pivotal role in shaping how these spaces could be utilized through stunning renderings that bring their potential to life. Let’s explore how some of the city’s most iconic commercial spaces are being transformed into the ultimate fashion stages for NYFW.

Much like the great engines that once traversed its grounds, Terminal Warehouse stands as a symbol of connection and empowerment. Its design echoes the spirit of New York City, embracing diversity and possibility. This reimagined space goes beyond the traditional office environment, offering a spectrum of possibilities for programming, collaboration, and innovation. 

Terminal Warehouse: Where History Meets Haute Couture

In the heart of West Chelsea, the Terminal Warehouse offered a unique, yet equally compelling, vibe for NYFW. This historic building, recently revitalized by L&L Holding, has seamlessly merged its industrial roots with modern sophistication, making it a prime location for Ulla Johnson’s Spring 2025 collection.

VISUALHOUSE played a significant role in this transformation, creating renderings that envisioned Terminal Warehouse as a versatile event space capable of hosting high-profile events like NYFW. The venue’s new terrace, with its juxtaposition of raw, exposed brick and contemporary design elements, provided a distinctive backdrop that highlighted Johnson's bohemian-inspired pieces. The Terminal Warehouse is the kind of space where fashion meets narrative—an embodiment of New York's ability to reinvent and reimagine.

Starrett-Lehigh: NYFW’s Dynamic New Hub

Just next door, the Starrett-Lehigh Building has been making waves as NYFW’s new main hub, having moved from Spring Studios to this historic Chelsea landmark in February. With its expansive 2.3 million square feet of space, Starrett-Lehigh is more than just a building; it’s a statement. Owned by RXR and dating back to 1931, the building is currently undergoing a major transformation to bolster its status as a cultural and professional epicenter. From a new restaurant by Marcus Samuelsson to a food hall and a public outdoor terrace with Hudson River views, Starrett-Lehigh is redefining what a fashion hub can be. VISUALHOUSE collaborated closely with RXR Realty to produce a series of captivating CGI renderings and film animations, highlighting the potential and versatility of spaces throughout the building.

The venue hosted Tibi’s Spring 2025 collection, and it was nothing short of spectacular. With its fashion-forward tenants like Ralph Lauren, Canada Goose, Zimmermann, and Under Armour already calling it home, Starrett-Lehigh is a natural fit for NYFW. The building’s blend of historic charm and modern amenities creates a versatile canvas that allows each show to become a distinctive experience, reinforcing NYFW's standing as a premier global fashion platform.

While Terminal Warehouse and Starrett-Lehigh may be the headline acts, NYFW isn’t confined to just a few spaces. The city’s diverse neighborhoods also played host to a range of events, from Hudson Yards to 50 Ninth in the Meatpacking District to Chelsea Factory and the World Trade Center. Each location, with its unique character and story, adds another layer to NYFW, turning the entire city into a dynamic, interactive runway.

New York Fashion Week has always been about more than just the clothes on the runway; it’s a celebration of creativity, culture, and the city itself. This year, New York's most iconic spaces aren’t just venues—they're integral to the storytelling that makes NYFW a must-see event. The foresight of companies like VISUALHOUSE, who helped shape these spaces through their compelling visualizations, has played a crucial role in transforming these venues into vibrant stages for fashion and beyond.

From the historic flair of Terminal Warehouse to the evolving creativity at Starrett-Lehigh, these venues provide more than just a setting—they set the stage for what fashion can be. So, as NYFW continues to evolve, remember that it’s not just about what’s worn—it’s also about where it’s worn. Because in New York, the spaces are as stylish as the people who inhabit them.

For new project inquiries, please email [email protected] with your project details. We look forward to hearing from you.

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