Arcadia Earth is the first immersive augmented reality journey through planet Earth! They built a creative way to share critical topics of what’s happening to our Home. Come see this augmented reality journey with a purpose!
It has been a while since I had seen such an interesting immersive art installation in New York City like Arcadia Earth, especially considering that they happen all-the-time.
Every week, there is something new to be seen.
But, many of them simply don’t have a bigger purpose behind it and it’s exclusively for commercial reasons and entertainment.
We all know how Instagrammable places create buzz online and so many organic postings, but many brands forget to actually put together something more meaningful.
With the endless crucial conversations that have been going on about Global Warming and how everyone needs to really start understanding the consequences of how they’re living their lives, Arcadia Earth did a truly remarkable work!
The concept was idealized by the Experiential Retail Designer, Valentino Vettori. And I have to say, such a brilliant mind!
“I believe in Retail, I believe in shopping centers, I believe in physical environments. I do NOT believe in how stores are design and operated today, I no longer believe in the $XSQFT formula, I believe in “IMPRESSIONS X SQFT”.”
“The brick & mortar industry is tired and we need to “shake it”. What was yesterday defined as “Lifestyle” should today become “storytelling”. Brands need to rethink their Store layouts where Products are no longer the primary focus.
“Racks of garments and shelves full of goods should make space for experiential display. It’s no longer “Visual Merchandising”, it’s now “Emotional Storytelling”. I’m an Experiential Retail Designer, I believe in Evolution but this time I’m calling for brands interested in Retail Revolution.”
What is it?
“Arcadia Earth is a large scale multi-sensorial journey through underwater worlds, fantasy lands, and inspirational art installations. Powered by augmented reality, virtual reality, projection mapping, and interactive environments, you, the explorer, will learn how small lifestyle changes will have a massive impact on the future of our planet.”
Arcadia Earth Purpose:
“Arcadia aims to bring innovative brands, organizations, artists and activists together to showcase the best of the environmental movement and foster engaged conversation. We provide an otherworldly platform to raise awareness about sustainability and circular design.”
The 15 different rooms, in over 15,000 square feet, addresses numerous environmental issues related to Land, Water, Air and Energy. Each room has a great explanation of what is actually happening around the world right now and the huge negative impact it’s causing.
Now, may times we know these facts, but we do not know HOW we can actually contribute to making less of a damage, right? The installations not only show you visually what’s happening, but also aims to bring and offer sustainable solutions.
Before entering, you’ll be advised to download the immersive exhibit’s app. You can also get an iPad to experience it all. Once you enter the rooms, you’ll be able to read how we’re impacting the Earth and what we can do to help!
After that, you follow the instructions on your iPad to experience the beautiful work done with augmented reality and other technologies. It’s hard to explain in words, but you can see our IGTV video on it!
Now, let us share some of the facts you’ll learn more about:
Did you know:
- Coral reefs make up 1 percent of the ocean floor, yet are home to over 25% of all marine life;
- A single drop of chemical sunscreen in enough to contaminate a coral reef environment the size of 6.5 Olympic-sized swimming pools;
- Coral Reefs are major tourism attractions and approximately 6,000 – 14,000 tons of sunscreen (the equivalent of 38 Boing 747’s) enter coral reef environments every year;
- Coral reefs the size of 2.5 American football fields die every minute and 90% of the world’s reefs are predicted to be destroyed by 2050.
… You can help:
- Choose reef safe sunscreen. Mineral-based non-nano options like company raw elements is a great alternative option;
- Eat only sustainable fish to stop destructive fishing practices like trawling that destroy our reefs;
- Replace chemical cleaning products with a homemade non-toxic solution of baking soda, white vinegar, alcohol and lemon.
Did you know:
- The majority of plastic trash ends up in the ocean;
- Around 4-12 million tons of plastic is dumped into the ocean a year, that’s 1 truckload per minute;
- Over 4 billion plastic cups are used in the U.S. every year;
- 2,160,000 plastic bottles are consumed in the U.S. every day;
- 55,800 pounds of plastic containers and packaging is produced in the U.S. every minute;
- If we continue at this rate, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.
…You can help:
- Say no to plastic water bottles. Buy a recyclable water bottle and refill it – download the Tap App to find free drinking water stations in the U.S.;
- Replace plastic straw with paper, hay, bamboo, lemongrass, metal or glass straws;
- Replace plastic coffee cups with reusable ones;
- If you must use plastic avoid type #3 – #7, it’s not recyclable (the number is on the recyclable symbol).
Did you know:
- Over 50,000 acres of forest (an area the size of 3.5 Manhattan’s) are lost every day at a result of human agriculture. Over 80% of this loss comes from 11 of the most important rainforests in the world;
- Globally we waste 33% of all food every year – that’s more than 150,000 garbage trucks full of waste every day. The U.S. is one of the worst culprits – food waste has hit 40%;
- Landfills are the third-largest source of human-related methane emissions in the U.S. – 22% of which is made up of food waste;
- Methane emissions warms the planet 86 times faster than CO2.
…You can help:
- Plant a tree to absorb carbon from the atmosphere;
- Compost your organic waste to reduce methane emissions resulting from landfill;
- Reduce food waste and eat your leftovers;
- Donate unused groceries to local food rescue organizations;
- Micro shop – only buy what you will eat;
- Buy imperfect, organic product to dramatically decrease food waste
Did you know:
- Textile waste had risen rapidly over the years, yet only 1% of fibers in clothes can be reused to make new garments;
- The average American will toss 81 pounds of clothing this year, and only 10% will be recycled, meaning 24.5 billion pounds will end up in landfills;
- 85% of clothes you wear will end up in a landfill – accounting for 5% of all landfill;
- The main contributors to textile pollution are products that cannot biodegrade or compost – including footwear, bedding, towels and clothing.
…You can help:
- Demand transparency from brands and retailers (like Zero Waste Daniel offers his clients), when you shop;
- Ask for sustainable clothes and products, the quality is better, they last longer and are less likely to end up in landfill;
- Recycle, reuse and repurpose to conserve the energy and resources it takes to product new garments;
- Look for clothes, shoes and homewares made with TencelTM Fibers as they are created with trees grown in sustainable managed forests, so they are wood-based, compostable, biodegradable, strong and sustainable;
- Used in apparel, home and footwear, TencelTM Fibers are created from trees grown in sustainable managed forests and have a low environmental footprint.
These are crazy facts, right? Once we get these numbers into perspective, it’s just insane to think and realize what we’re doing to planet Earth.
In addition, not only are you learning in a fun way what’s happening to our Home, but for every ticket sold, Arcadia Earth will plant one tree and donate to their charity partner, Oceanic Global!
Before you leave Arcadia Earth’s exhibition rooms, be sure to Make a Pledge that suits you best. You can:
- Clean your bills: Switch to a green energy supplier
- Eat Seasonably: East local, seasonal food
- Eat Up: Reduce your food waste
- Fantastic Unplastic: Avoid excessive packaging
- Fish food: East sustainable fish
- Fix it: Don’t replace it – repair it!
- On yer bike: Pedal your way around
- Passion fashion: Dress yourself sustainably
- Tap It: Drink tap, use bottle
- Veg out: Make meat a treat
- Well oiled: Steer clear of unsustainable palm oil
- You mug: Dish the disposable cup
Can’t get better than this, right? So, “What do you Vow to?”
We do know it’s hard to sometimes find specific sustainable and eco-friendly products, so take a look at an amazing curation of products in their store.
Enjoy this amazing multi-sensorial journey, learn how we can change our impact positively and still, support an important cause! Be the change!
Take a look at other sustainable businesses in New York City like the 1Hotels to learn about sustainable traveling or see how Siemen’s hidden technology makes NY one of the best cities on Earth and impacts the city and your life.
Hours:
Monday – Friday: 12pm – 9pm
Weekends: 11am – 9pm
Location: 718 Broadway
Photo Credits: ©Behind the Scenes NYC and DMitchell
*Last Update on March/2020.*
Fê is our Founder & CEO! She’s Brazilian (Yup! Not a New Yorker!), but her indescribable passion and curiosity for NY makes her a New Yorker by heart. Fê worked in companies like Kimberly Clark, Quintessentially, Vogue Brazil and Iguatemi Group, and after 12 years of working for these fantastic companies, she decided to go solo and move to NYC!
She lives in Brooklyn since April of ’15 and has been tirelessly working on BTSNYC, working with huge companies on corporate projects, practicing her Arhatic Yoga meditations, finding time for gym and friends! Phiuf!
