Participants at the town hall by Doha Debates.
Doha, Qatar: More than 400 people filled the auditorium at Usina del Arte, one of Buenos Aires’ most iconic cultural venues, for the first-ever town hall organised by Qatar Foundation’s Doha Debates in Latin America.
The event, titled “How Should We Reinvent the City?”, was held as part of the Qatar Argentina and Chile 2025 Year of Culture and brought together students from Argentina, Chile, and Qatar, alongside global experts, to explore the future of urban life.
The evening opened with remarks from the Advisor on Latin America for the Years of Culture and Qatar’s former Ambassador to Mexico H E Mohammed Al Kuwari, who said: “In Arab culture, dialogue has always been at the heart of community life, from the tradition of the majlis to the exchange of poetry and ideas. Debate is about listening, learning, and finding common ground more than simply winning or losing. That is the spirit we wanted to bring to this town hall and the mission Years of Culture shares with Doha Debates.”
Moderated by journalist Malika Bilal, the programme sparked an energetic exchange between experts Guadalupe Granero Realini, urban economist and researcher at the CIPPEC think tank, Program Director and Professor of Islamic Architecture and Urbanism at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar, Akel Ismail Kahera; and founding director of Create Streets in the UK, Nicholas Boys Smith; and a diverse group of students representing cities from around the world. Together, they debated whether competition or caring would most powerfully shape the cities of tomorrow.
The discussion addressed some of the most pressing issues facing urban centres today, including densification, equity and inclusion, organic architecture, public–private partnerships, decentralisation, and the balance between rural and urban life. A recurring theme was the tension between the pursuit of global competitiveness and the need for human-centred design.
“The future of cities cannot be built in isolation — it demands truth-seeking dialogue that bridges cultures, generations, and disciplines,” said Amjad Atallah, Managing Director of Doha Debates. “At Doha Debates, we believe solutions emerge when we engage across differences. In partnership with the Years of Culture initiative, we brought together students from Argentina, Chile, and Qatar to engage with global experts on how cities must evolve to meet the needs of our rapidly changing world.”
For students, the town hall provided a unique opportunity to connect across cultures and perspectives.
