New Tashkent as a model of a sustainable metropolis: the future of architecture and urban environment discussed at TIEF

On the last day of the Tashkent International Investment Forum, a panel session "From the Cradle of the Renaissance to building the Future" was held, dedicated to new approaches to architecture, construction and shaping the urban environment. The discussion focused on the largest urban development project in the region — New Tashkent. The session was moderated by Abdulla Abdukadirov, First Deputy Director of the Agency for Strategic Reforms.

Dynamic Architecture founder David Fischer presented the concept of dynamic buildings, whose floors are manufactured in a factory and assembled as modules. He noted that such structures provide high energy efficiency, lower operating costs and accurate compliance with standards. One of these projects will soon be implemented in the United States. Negotiations are underway on parallel implementation in Uzbekistan. Financing is planned at the expense of an Italian export loan covering up to 85% of expenses.

Philippe Dessoy, CEO of BESIX Group and President of CICA, drew attention to the need for high-quality construction from the first stage. He stressed that deviations from the standards result in double costs in the future and hinder development. According to him, a competent construction environment is gradually being formed in the region, largely due to the involvement of young personnel potential. At the same time, Dessoy noted the importance of safety and implementation of global standards in the implementation of complex and high-rise projects.

Vladimir Ivanov, Managing Partner of Spectrum Group, outlined a shift in focus in the preferences of new generations. He stressed that young residents of megacities strive for a more functional and meaningful space, where the comfort of the urban environment is more important than the square footage of the apartment. According to him, architecture is becoming an emotional and visual experience, and life itself is increasingly shifting to urban public spaces. "We are seeing a change in consumer logic: compactness, environmental friendliness, digitalization, and not scale for the sake of status," he said.

Ivanov called polycentricity an important element of future cities. He stressed that low density leads to inefficient infrastructure spending, and therefore a proper balance between density, economy and sustainability is needed. Among the priorities are the application of ESG principles, environmentally friendly materials, integration with the historical context and the development of digital solutions.

A broader regional perspective was also discussed during the session. Experts agreed that Tashkent can become one of the centers of attraction in Central Asia — a city where talent, capital and innovation will be concentrated. The strategic geographical position and growing economic weight of the capital, which already accounts for more than 20% of the country's GDP, open up opportunities for creating a new business and cultural core of the region.

New Tashkent is seen as a project that can set standards for urban sustainability, architectural quality and investment attractiveness. It combines technological innovations, modern urbanism and a long-term vision of human capital development.