Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
As cities place greater emphasis on green spaces and mindful living, experts are shedding light on how urban landscapes are evolving — and what it truly takes to build a sustainable city.
These were the topics in focus as artists and thought leaders came together for a panel discussion, titled “Space as Medium – In/Visible City”, held on June 20 as part of Abu Dhabi Festival 2025.
“True sustainability” is not just about acquiring certifications and using eco-friendly technology in building infrastructure, said Wael Al Awar, Principal Architect and Founding Partner of design studio Waiwai.
Instead, it should be “about looking at how traditional knowledge can inform contemporary design”, Al Awar told Aletihad on the sidelines of the panel discussion.
“Sustainability should always begin with an understanding of the climate, materials, and the history of a place,” he said.
Infrastructure must respond to the specific environmental conditions we live with while remaining open to change, he added.
“True sustainability is social and cultural as well as ecological… A sustainable urban environment must embrace all of these dimensions while also being adaptable.”
Al Awar could imagine cities that respond to “the rhythms of the desert, where public spaces are shaped by shade, breeze, and water—not just an image”.
“Our cities have grown rapidly, but now we have an opportunity to reflect and to design for adaptation and resilience in addition to expansion,” the architect said.
“If we think of infrastructure as a living, adaptive landscape rather than a static framework, it can guide Gulf cities towards a more sustainable and resilient future,” he added.
Meanwhile, multimedia artist Minouk Lim offered an emotional and philosophical take on the place of art in urban spaces.
Art, she said, highlights and exists with the “unseen”.
"A sanctuary or nest is placed in the hidden area. Just as there are creatures that prepare for birth in the dark, we human beings also need to sleep, dream, and rest in the unseen. Therefore, we also need to care for the invisible, and that is what it means to preserve dignity,” said Lim, who was also a panellist at the event.
"Taking care of a city is also not the power of a single person, but the conscience and solidarity of ordinary, invisible citizens," she added.
