Saudi NEOM launches 1st Intl. Exhibition in Venice

NEOM launched its first international exhibition in Venice while presenting the key design principles underlying The Line, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday. Called “Zero Gravity Urbanism — Principles for a New Livability,” the exhibition plays host to more than 20 of the world’s leading architects and innovative designers.

Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, the minister of culture, attended the inauguration ceremony before the exhibition’s official launch at the Abbazia di San Gregorio. The minister had traveled to Italy on an official visit to help strengthen cultural cooperation between the host country and the Kingdom.

The exhibition boasted a panel discussion with NEOM CEO Nadhmi Al-Nasr and other experts who put the spotlight on the global importance of zero gravity urbanism. The discussion also looked at the project’s significance in protecting nature along coastal, mountainous, and desert regions.

Tarek Qaddumi, an executive director from NEOM’s urban planning team, said the exhibition was important as it allowed the architecture community to analyze the level of creativity and innovation underpinning zero gravity urbanism. The exhibition runs until Sept. 24.