About Faded Cities
Faded Cities believes current models for mass tourism are unsustainable and destroy the unique histories of cities around the world. By showcasing the rich history and untapped potential of cities whose contemporary problems overshadow their past, Faded Cities hopes to provide a new model towards sustainable travel for both the traveller and the destination.
We aim to:
1. Promote sustainable and responsible travel
We mix art and tech to spotlight cities whose contemporary problems have overshadowed their rich and varied histories. Our explorations use immersive media to bring each city’s often forgotten story to life.
2. Provide a framework for sustainable urban regeneration and preservation
Faded Cities believes that preserving a city’s past makes it more livable today and tomorrow. We offer ideas for sustainable city development by learning from past urban mistakes and successes – with the ultimate goal to build greener, smarter cities globally.
3. Learn from history
Understanding a city’s complex history helps us better understand its present and can provide insights into shaping its future. Our research into the city’s urban development and landscape can help shed light on contemporary challenges and inspire new solutions.
4. Capture and share unique city scapes
Through our explore tool, we create maps of each city’s unique architecture to preserve the city’s architectural landscape.
5. Create a community of practitioners
We’re building a community of architects, historians and creatives who are passionate about sustainable travel and development.
Adam Jordan grew up in a small town by the coast in England where he developed a deep interest in far away cultures and the environment. After studying French and Arabic at the University of Oxford, Adam lived in several Middle Eastern countries including Lebanon and Saudi Arabia where he sharpened his interest in colonial architecture and the Middle East and realized the key to a brighter future for the region lies in illuminating its rich and varied past. Adam currently lives in London and works as a high school teacher and when not marking papers, enjoys travel writing, architecture and dreaming of the next off the beaten path destination to visit.
Sophia Erickson is a French-American explorer with a deep-rooted passion for exploring unique and forgotten places. As the daughter of a diplomat, she spent her childhood moving between Europe and the Americas, sparking a lifelong passion for cultural exploration. After earning a degree in History from the University of Oxford, Sophia's journey continued to China where she wrote a book capturing the idiosyncrasies of living in China for students. She also lived in the UAE, where her fascination with diverse cultures and the evolution of cities continued to grow.