A plan of the forthcoming Louvre Abu Dhabi. Architect: Ateliers Jean Nouvel. Developer: TDIC (Tourism Development & Investment Company). Courtesy Ateliers Jean Nouvel.
West Kowloon Cultural District render, courtesy DBox / Foster + Partners
West Kowloon Cultural District render, courtesy DBox / Foster + Partners
New Holland Island, render, courtesy WORKac
Following an in-depth exploration of the UK context through the event From Bilbão to Hastings, the If You Build It series moved on to present three of the world’s most anticipated grand urban cultural projects, to critically explore the use of architecture and art in urban development strategies.
Through discussion of the forthcoming Louvre Abu Dhabi atSaadiyat Island (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates), West Kowloon Cultural District (Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China) and New Holland Island (St. Petersburg, Russian Federation), If You Build It, Will They Come? New Cultural Projects in Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong and St Petersburg will preview dissected the design, ambition and significance of these forthcoming cultural destinations.
The evening was chaired by Edwin Heathcote, architecture critic of The Financial Times, and featured the projects’ respective architects – Hala Wardé of Ateliers Jean Nouvel, Spencer de Grey of Foster + Partners, and Dan Wood of WORKac – alongside critics and clients, including Aric Chen, Curator of Architecture and Design at Hong Kong’s future M+ museum, and Marina Barber, General Director of Iris New Holland.