The city of the future - The Line

Saudi Arabia has unveiled plans to build a zero-carbon city called The Line. This will be the first large-scale construction project in the landmark business zone NEOM, conceived with the idea of diversifying the economy of the world's largest oil exporter and challenging the traditional horizontal urban planning model.

NEOM is part of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030, which aims to shift the focus of the economy away from the extraction and trade of crude oil, loosen social restrictions and boost investment in the country.

Construction of the unique 170-kilometer perfectly straight line (The Line), which will connect the coast of the Red Sea with the mountains and valleys of the northwestern part of the Kingdom, has already begun. The emphasis of the project is on reducing carbon emissions and protecting the environment. The structure will be entirely powered by renewable energy and is designed as a sustainable alternative to traditional cities.

The project seems to be an embodiment of the urban planning movement Zero Gravity Urbanism, which supports the idea that instead of the uncontrolled growth and waste of land that exists in horizontally arranged settlements, cities can be designed vertically. Thus, The Line becomes an example of a model city whose priority is the preservation of nature and the improvement of people's living environment.

The megastructure will have mirrored facades - wall-like structures that will enclose an open area between them. 500 meters tall, it will be the 12th tallest building in the world, as well as the longest one.

The linear metropolis is designed on several levels, the top of which will be vehicle-free, only for pedestrians. The layout of The Line will meet all the daily needs of residents within a five-minute walk. Two underground levels are planned for infrastructure and ultra-fast transport that will connect the two ends of the city within a maximum 20-minute journey.

“When launching The Line last year, we committed to a civilizational revolution that puts people first, based on a radical change in urban planning. The project aims to address the challenges facing humanity in urban life today and shed light on alternative lifestyles," said Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

At the launch, Prince Mohammed outlined a space "built around people, not cars", which will be driven by driverless vehicles and which will become the most liveable city on the planet, at just 34 sq km.

The structure, which is designed to house nine million residents when completed, will include residential, commercial and entertainment areas, as well as schools and parks. The city will be lavishly landscaped. The visuals show parks located between the two linear blocks, which will be connected by multiple bridges and covered with lots of green spaces. The mirrored facades that will line the city will give the structure a unique look, allowing The Line to blend naturally with its surroundings.

According to government plans, this sustainable, compact and livable metropolis will be ready to welcome its first residents in 2024.

Here you can see a video presentation of the outstanding project:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kz5vEqdaSc

Photo Credits: NEOM