Venice, Italy – More than 20 of the world’s leading architects, designers, and future thinkers led a major opening event for NEOM’s first international exhibition in Venice. The exhibition marks the launch of the concept of Zero Gravity Urbanism and the design principles behind THE LINE, NEOM’s groundbreaking linear city.
The event took place during the visit of Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan to Venice in Italy.
Sir Peter Cook, Massimiliano Fuksas, Jean Nouvel and Ben van Berkel were among the world-renowned architects who joined CEO Nadhmi Al-Nasr and other representatives from NEOM leadership on stage. Their presence marked their collective contribution to the development of the principles of Zero Gravity Urbanism, and reflected the global significance of this moment.
They were joined by more than 100 other architects and urban experts at the opening reception
The exhibition is now open to visitors and runs from 20 May until 24 September 2023.
Set in the historic Abbazia di San Gregorio, one of Venice’s oldest buildings, the exhibition’s focal point is a large-scale 9x13m relief plan of NEOM set in the central courtyard, reflecting THE LINE’s minimal and harmonious interaction with its natural environment and its passage through coastal, mountain and desert landscapes.
Connecting pressing global challenges with viable urban solutions, the relief plan’s surrounding cloisters and exhibition rooms present concepts, drawings and models created by the international architecture community in response to these global challenges.
NEOM is presenting a series of talks from leading architects, academics and urban thinkers on the sidelines of the exhibition.
“Brought to life in Venice through the design proposals and intellectual contribution of the world’s leading architects and urban thinkers, Zero Gravity Urbanism represents a proposal of how humanity can better respond to the urban challenges we face globally,” Antoni Vives, Chief Urban Planning Officer of NEOM, said.
Tarek Qaddumi, Executive Director of Urban Planning of NEOM, said:“Tonight represents an important next step onto the global stage for Zero Gravity Urbanism, as the world’s wider architecture community now has the opportunity to see the depth of thinking and work that has gone into this incredible project so many prominent thinkers and architects.”
What is Zero Gravity Urbanism?
It is a linear and three-dimensional concept that provides an innovative alternative to our current urban model. Created to address key challenges, including a growing demand for urban land, rising social and economic inequalities, and climate change, it is a model for developing cities with a radical approach to nature conservation, livability and human progress.
The concept seeks to address global environmental and social challenges by striking a balance between nature conservation, livability, and sustainable human progress.
