The Line is a humancentric futuristic city concept created by NEOM in Saudi Arabia. The project is considered a revolution for traditional urban life and urbanism. The name of the NEOM combines the Greek word Neos (νέος), or new, with the Arabic word Mustaqbal (مستقبل), or future.

Concept

The Line”, A $725 billion futuristic city designed to house 9 million residents. It comprises a mirrored, wall-like structure 200 meters wide and 500 meters tall. To be built in Saudi Arabia’s north-western Tabuk province, the project will extend 170 kms inland from the Red Sea across coastal desert, mountain, and upper valley landscapes.

The Line would be powered by renewable energy. The entire development will be net-zero and pollution free. According to NEOM, “No roads, cars or emissions, it will run on 100% renewable energy and 95% of the land will be preserved for nature. Unlike traditional cities, people’s health and well-being will be prioritized over transportation and infrastructure. Only 200 meters wide, but 170 kilometers long and 500 meters above sea level.

Structure

The images of the project show two parallel wall-like constructions enclosing a space between them. According to its planners, The Line will be encased in a mirror façade on the outside, giving it a distinct character. The inside will be constructed to house buildings, layers of public parks, pedestrian spaces, schools, houses, and workplaces. Urbanization develops horizontally, not vertically like traditional urban planning models.

“The designs revealed for the city’s vertically layered communities will challenge the traditional flat, horizontal cities and create a model for nature preservation and enhanced human livability. The Line will tackle humanity’s challenges in urban life today and will shine a light on alternative ways to live.”

THE LINE is a rejection of the sprawling suburb and a hyper-exaggeration of the supertall skyscraper. Often referred to as a ‘ground scraper,’ the singular structure will stretch 170 kilometers — over one hundred miles — to house a city of nine million people.

Zero Gravity

Zero Gravity Urbanism is an expression we use to describe the reduced dependence on the natural ground plane by creating multiple vertically organized ground planes at height. By doing so, we would be essentially building a new topography around which urban life is generated.

This new approach reduces THE LINE’s physical footprint to 2 percent of that of a conventional city of a similar population. London currently sits at about 1600 km2 compared to 34 km2 of THE LINE for the same population of approximately 9 million. As the world’s population grows and as urban migration continues, we see THE LINE, radical as it may be, as a viable alternative to the gradual and systematic takeover of natural ecologies and landscapes.

Hyper-Proximity and Hyper-Mixed use

Urban life within THE LINE is another driver for THE LINE’s 3-dimensional organization. Two direct derivatives of Zero Gravity Urbanism are Hyper-Proximity and Hyper-Mixed-use.

Hyper Mixed-use is the idea that within this urban environment we find everything everywhere. THE LINE rejects the idea of zoning and classification. We believe that all aspects of human life, whether living, working, culture, education, or entertainment happen all over the city. In other cities this may not allow for the creation of synergies between certain industries and the creation of certain districts. THE LINE does both. You can access 80,00 people within 5-minutes and so you will have multiple blended walkable business districts and ecosystems.

Moving around THE LINE is primarily based on walking. Schools will always be within a 5-minute walk, so will all your daily needs. In essence, the city is a 3-dimensionally organized set of buildings around walkable public space without roads, traffic, pollution, and noise.

For more relevant articles, check OXAGON – A Floating city in NEOM – Emerging Trendz