Somerset House, London, 5-12 June 2016, Curated by Sam Jacob, Jane Withers and Martha Schwartz Partners

ArDe is a new concept 8-day exhibition and conference that will, for the first time, unite the disciplines of architecture, art, design, development, property, technology and finance.

Dec 1, 2015 -- It will ask big questions about how the city can change and adapt to respond to new paradigms, swelling populations and global markets, proposing ways for all those involved in the urban fabric to work together to create resilient, sustainable and beautiful cities.

Architecture curator Sam Jacob says, "ArDe is a show that brings together worlds of architecture, property and design to create a unique dialogue about the future of our cities. And, sited right in the heart of London, it's about creating a public debate with the city and its citizens too."

Through immersive, interactive and sometimes performative installations and events, ArDe will explore the urgent issues of today's and tomorrow's built environment by examining the daily rituals that we perform in our cities - from eating to sleeping, washing to travelling, playing to working. In the near future, will we be working from bed, or sleeping in the office? Will we wash in communal bathhouses, drink from public water troughs, or play at work?

Visitors will be invited on an experiential journey through a series of uniquely curated installations, entitled New Rituals for Urban Living, that give a glimpse into the future of our living spaces - environments that question and provoke, that encourage us to safeguard our future, whilst savouring our present.

The ArDe Property Exhibition's multimedia environment will present the near future of London, showcasing the schemes that are helping to position the capital as one of the greatest cities in the world. The public will be able to 'visit' the schemes of today and tomorrow, the groundbreaking developments that are responding to users changing needs and impacting on our urban landscape, the out-of-the-box thinking that is the future of city making.

Alongside the exhibition, a two-day ideas conference at neighbouring King's College will bring together the major players in the built environment - from planners to politicians, sociologists to designers - to ask big questions about population growth, climate change and resource scarcity.

Founder and CEO of ArDe, Esperanza Koren, says: "It is becoming clear that nothing of note can be done without an integrated approach. We need cross-disciplinary activity to create cities that will work for future generations".

ArDe advisory panel members Vicky Richardson (British Council) says: "It's long overdue that one of the world's leading cities for architecture had an exhibition bringing together architects, designers, developers, manufacturers, students and the public."

Somerset House, the setting for ArDe, has a long history of public exhibition and performance. Queen Anne of Denmark used it as a testing ground for ideas about the 17th century city, displaying these through masques written by Ben Johnson, with set design by Inigo Jones. Many of the concepts presented at court in this manner did make it out into the city of London as we know it today, although usually in more practical forms. ArDe will pick up on this legacy, as well as paying tribute to Somerset House's 2016 Utopia celebrations, embracing the notion that exhibitions have the potential to transform dreams about the city into reality and presenting us with a compelling and inspiring portrait of the near future of a world city.

http://www.ardefair.com

Contacts:
Press Contact:
Theresa Simon
Email Contact
+ 44 7976 766221

ArDe team
Founder & CEO
Esperanza Koren

ArDe Curatorial Team
Sam Jacob - Architecture
Martha Schwartz Partners - Landscape
Kate Sweeney - Public art
Jane Withers - Interiors & design

ArDe Advisory Panel
Gregoir Chikaher, Engineer, formerly Business leader, Arup
Edwin Heathcote, Architect, designer and FT Architecture Critic
Rowan Moore, Observer Architecture Critic
Vicky Richardson, Director of Architecture, Design and Fashion British Council

About Somerset House
A unique part of the London cultural scene, Somerset House is an historic building where surprising and original work comes to life. From its 18th century origins, Somerset House has been a centre for debate and discussion - an intellectual powerhouse for the nation. Somerset House is today a key cultural destination in London in which to experience a broad range of artistic activity, engage with artists, designers and makers and be a part of a major creative forum - an environment that is relaxed, welcoming to all and inspirational to visit while providing a stimulating workplace for the cultural and creative industries.

Since its opening in 2000, Somerset House has built up a distinctive outdoor public programme including Skate, concerts, an open-air film season and a diverse range of temporary exhibitions throughout the site focusing on contemporary culture, with an extensive learning programme attached.

We are now home to the biggest community of creative organisations in central London including The Courtauld Gallery and Institute of Art, King's College London Cultural Institute and over 100 other creative businesses. We currently attract approximately 2.5 million visitors every year.

Contacts:
Theresa Simon & Partners
www.theresasimon.com
0(0 44) 7976 766 221
Twitter: @we_are_tsp