{
  "id": 12764333,
  "title": "Culture as a building block: How the Middle East can inspire future cities",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/culture-as-a-building-block-how-the-middle-east-can-inspire-future",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-08T02:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/podcasts/culture-bites/2026/10/08/culture-as-a-building-block-how-the-middle-east-can-inspire-future-cities/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In this week's episode of Culture Bites, host Enas Refaei explores how arts and culture can influence the development of future cities, speaking to experts at LIVEX in Abu Dhabi. Professor Adrian Lahoud of architecture and urban design emphasizes that successful cities require more than just buildings, highlighting the importance of community involvement in shaping projects from the outset. Lahoud stresses that culture must be allowed to evolve organically, with the necessary resources to flourish.\n\nThe conversation shifts to the unique potential of the Middle East as a model for designing cities in a changing climate, as well as the role architecture can play in driving social change. Enas also speaks with Bill Bragin, the founding executive artistic director of The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi. Bragin views culture as a vital form of infrastructure, capable of uniting diverse communities and creating a city where residents genuinely wish to make a life. He also discusses the Arts Centre's role in connecting, collaborating, and nurturing professional growth among artists in the UAE, and the significance of exposing audiences to new and unfamiliar works to foster a thriving cultural scene.",
  "summary": "This episode was produced by The National in partnership with LIVEX. This week on Culture Bites , host Enas Refaei sits down with speakers at LIVEX in Abu Dhabi to discuss how arts and culture can shape the cities in which people live. She speaks to Adrian Lahoud, professor of architecture and urban design, about why successful cities need more than buildings. He explains why communities should…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "The Middle East needs a different answer to the failures exposed by October 7",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/the-middle-east-needs-a-different-answer-to-the-failures-exposed-by",
        "published": "2026-10-07T03:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "Tensions escalate in Middle East as Houthis target airports",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/tensions-escalate-in-middle-east-as-houthis-target-airports",
        "published": "2026-10-07T06:42:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "UAE National Agriculture Centre Partners with Growtech Middle East to drive sustainable farming",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/uae-national-agriculture-centre-partners-with-growtech-middle-east-to",
        "published": "2026-10-07T07:54:47.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}