Without Space and Light - RIBA

Client: Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
Commissioned by: RIBA
Production Company: Kumo London
Production Partners: Charlotte Broadribb of CoLab & Latch Agency (formally known as February)
Featured Talents: Kevin McCloud, Faye Mitchell, Miftin Al-Hadithi, Simon King, Thompson Okuku
Filming Location: Canary Wharf Underground, London streets, residential interiors
Equipment: Canon 5D MKIII With Canon EF Lenses
Format: 16:9 for broadcast and nationwide distribution

Commissioned by February and CoLab on behalf of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Without Space and Light is a short-form cultural film designed to raise awareness around the UK’s declining housing standards and the government’s responsibility in shaping healthier urban living. Part of the HomeWise Better Homes for Better Living campaign, the film explores how light, space and architecture affect mental wellbeing, and how too many homes are built without either.

Directed, written, shot and edited by Yohan Forbes, the film blends documentary realism with lyrical storytelling to challenge both government policy and public expectation around housing design. The piece features architect and broadcaster Kevin McCloud, who anchors the campaign with credibility, clarity and urgency. Shot across London’s underground system, city streets and private homes, the film visualises the psychological effects of poorly designed housing and the necessity of policy reform rooted in dignity and space.

STRATEGIC INSIGHT

This wasn’t just a campaign video, it was a cultural provocation, a film that asked decision makers to see differently. With limited light, tight locations and just four hours to film Kevin McCloud inside Canary Wharf station, the team had to navigate rush hour congestion, train schedules and the quiet intensity of public space. The result was a sequence that brought calm clarity to a space normally filled with movement, mirroring the campaign’s call for thoughtful, human-centred design.

Kumo London led all aspects of delivery: scripting, performance direction, cinematography and post while collaborating with February and CoLab to maintain tone, clarity and resonance across departments.

WHY THIS MATTERS

At Kumo London, we believe in authorship, not just in how something is made, but why. This project aligned creative voice, civic responsibility and emotional truth. It was made under pressure, delivered with care and shared nationally to affect change. It honoured the contributions of every performer, every technician and every moment of stillness caught in the frame. Even when collaborators drift or disappear, the work endures as a quiet act of authorship, closure and cultural intent.

SERVICES PROVIDED

- Campaign script development and creative direction

- Full location-based direction, camera operation and post-production

- Coordination with high-profile broadcast talent (Kevin McCloud)

- Lighting, performance direction and lensing in public infrastructure settings

- Editing and sound design supervision

- Cross-agency collaboration with Latch Agency (formally known as February), CoLab and RIBA

RELATED WORK

Explore more of our cinematography and production projects below:

• Kingdom of Winter: social ads - Multi-platform videography and post-production for Loftus Media’s immersive festive experience at London’s ExCeL Centre. Produced cinematic social cutdowns for TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, optimised for engagement and ticket sales through high-energy event coverage

• Calouste Gulbenkian Civic Arts Award (2023) - Multi-location camera operation, lighting and event coverage across the UK (Leeds, Manchester, Inverness, London) for a national cultural storytelling campaign. Captured interviews, performances and award moments to highlight community arts and charitable transformation

• Later with Jools Holland - BBC Sounds - Filming and social media edits for Loftus Media and BBC Sounds, capturing leading music artists including FKA Twigs, Joy Crookes, Serge (Kasabian) and Nilüfer Yanya. Combined close-up cinematography, creative lighting and rapid-turnaround post-production for broadcast and digital release 

Need film content that drives policy change, shapes public opinion and delivers cultural impact?

Let’s create it together. Contact Kumo London today to help start your campaign.