Central Asia and the Future of Architecture

At the CAU Arch Summit 2026, architects, urban planners, and designers discussed the future of the urban environment, the role of technology, and the region’s cultural heritage. Star architect Bjarke Ingels: “This region preserves a centuries-old conception of space: the challenge for the new generation is not whether to modernize, but how to develop this heritage without destroying it.”

Tashkent (AsiaNews) – A major international architecture summit, CAU Arch Summit 2026, was held in recent days at the Central Asian University in Tashkent. Participants discussed the future of the urban environment, the role of technology, the region’s cultural heritage, and new approaches to urban development.

The event brought together architects, urban planners, designers, artists, students, and representatives from international architecture firms, featuring over 20 speakers from the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Uzbekistan, and attracted more than 800 attendees.

The summit’s guest of honor was Bjarke Ingels, founder of the international architecture firm BIG and one of the most influential architects of our time. His projects are renowned worldwide for their combination of sustainable architecture, technology, and innovative urban solutions. Among BIG’s most famous projects are Google’s headquarters in California, 8 House in Copenhagen, CopenHill—a power plant with a ski slope on the roof—and VIA 57 West in New York.

“Every project is an opportunity to explore something new,” said Ingels. “What inspires me most about Tashkent is that Central Asia is at a true crossroads, not only geographically, but also culturally and architecturally. This region preserves a centuries-old conception of space: in courtyards, in bazaars, in the play of light and shadow. The question for the new generation of architects is not whether to modernize, but how to develop this heritage without destroying it. The students I met here are asking precisely the questions that really matter, and this fills me with great optimism.“

Patricia Urlan, Business Development Manager at BIG, added that ”today we live in a world where technology is advancing rapidly, and with the advent of artificial intelligence and new digital tools, it is particularly important to understand these changes rather than resist them."

Technology should be viewed as a tool, always entrusting architects with the responsibility and opportunity to decide how to use technology, drawing on their own experience, values, and creativity.

At the Re:Field Art Expo, high school and college students, as well as young artists, presented artistic and architectural works that address current challenges in urban and rural environments. The exhibition brought together installations, paintings, graphics, and architectural and design projects.

Another highlight of the program was theRe:Field Hackathon, an architecture hackathon dedicated to the redevelopment of urban spaces, particularly unused and abandoned ones.

Through intensive teamwork, participants developed their own concepts for transforming the landscape, working on real-world cases. Teams from 16 of the top universities in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan, totaling approximately 100 participants, took part in the hackathon.

“The CAU Arch Summit 2026 is an event that demonstrates Central Asia’s role in the global dialogue on architecture and the future of cities. We believe that the new generation of architects in Uzbekistan should not only follow global trends but also shape them,” said Šukrullo Jakhongirov, dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Design at Central Asia University.

CAU was founded in 2019 in Uzbekistan and is one of the country’s fastest-growing private universities. It offers international degree programs in medicine, dentistry, business administration, architecture and design, engineering, tourism and hospitality, and other high-demand fields.

Its modern campus, internationally renowned faculty, and emphasis on hands-on learning make CAU an attractive choice for students from around the world.