Last July, the Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced the design for The Line, the city of the future in Neom. The design centers around putting humans first while preserving the surrounding nature. This project will reconceptualize urban development and what cities of the future could look like.
The Line will run on 100% renewable energy and prioritize human health and well-being over transportation and infrastructure as in traditional cities. The project will also prioritize the preservation of 95% of Neom’s land. Saudi Arabia claims The Line will create around 460,000 jobs, adding an estimated $48 billion to the country’s GDP. The Line project is a third of the overall NEOM project in Saudi Arabia. The Line is a project created to combat some of the world’s greatest challenges today with the impact of car emissions, urban sprawl, environmental sustainability, climate change, and social disconnection.
The Line will be only 200 meters wide, 170 kilometers long, and 500 meters above sea level. Eventually, The Line will be a home for 9 million residents with a footprint of only 34 square kilometers. This has never been done before with cities of similar capacity. Because of the size dimensions of the Line, this will decrease the infrastructure footprint with never before seen efficiencies. The ultimate goal of the project is to decrease the carbon footprint, encouraging residents to enjoy the surrounding nature while traveling on foot. Residents will have access to all facilities in The Line within a five-minute walk. There will also be a high-speed rail with an end-to-end transit of 20 minutes.
Traditional cities and urban planning commonly use the horizontal expansion method, while the Line Project will follow the idea of layering city functions vertically, still allowing people to move seamlessly in three dimensions. Moving up, down, and or across is a concept referred to as Zero Gravity Urbanism. Instead of the city being just built vertically with tall buildings, the concept will allow layers of public parks, pedestrian areas, schools, homes, and places for work that will all be easily accessible within just five minutes. With the new urban phenomenon, people will come closer together than ever before, promoting social interaction and cultural exchange. NEOM executive director of urban planning, Tarek Qaddumi said “We hope that these vertical planning and design principles can be incorporated into the planning of other cities. Building vertically benefits humanity, not only from a social viewpoint but also from a profound economic and environmental perspective.”
The Line is a part of a larger Neom urban project, which will eventually become the hub of renewable energy generation. Energy will derive from wind, solar and green hydrogen allowing the transition to a low-carbon energy system.
Currently, The Line is conducting numerous studies and research to develop and grow the project. Construction on The Line has already started and is well into the execution phase. It is estimated that by 2030, there will be at least a million people living in The Line.
The Line Project is underway to overcome the challenges facing humanity today, highlighting alternative ways to live. It will show new possibilities for a way of life while protecting the environment and ultimately, the world. The Line Project is the future of urban living.
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