The considerations regarding urban regeneration are far and wide. From the reuse of derelict infrastructure - like WORKac's project in St. Petersburg's New Holland Island - to the master-planning of cultural communities - like the design of Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi - to the development of an entire districts - like Foster + Partner's master plan for the West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong - the design of cultural centers that range in program, function and attraction have been a keystone in redeveloping the cultural impact of cities. The "Bilbao Effect" is still cited as proof that architecture has the capacity to revitalize cities centers and elevate their status in global design with these "architectural trophies". If you Build it, Will They Come?: New Cultural Projects in Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong and St Petersburg is a talk, organized by The Architectural Foundation that explores the relationship between grand urban cultural projects and the developmental strategies that are unique to each city. The discussion focuses on presentations from designers of the aforementioned projects in an effort to find both the specific relationships that exist between development and the site as well as the general understanding of how cultural centers thrive and revive the urban environment.
