Saudi Arabia recently announced plans for an ambitious urban project called The Line—a one-building city in the desert that will stretch 170 kilometers (106 miles) long and only 200 meters (656 feet) wide.
Part of a mega-development dubbed Neom, The Line reportedly will house 9 million residents on a footprint of just 34 square kilometers (13 square miles). “This will reduce the infrastructure footprint and create never-before-seen efficiencies in city functions,” according to an official statement. The narrow footprint will preserve 95% of the Neom development’s land.
The Line’s design aims to challenge the traditional design of urban environments. Unlike cities that comprise horizontal buildings spread across fairly flat terrains, The Line will vertically layer homes, schools, workplaces, public parks, and pedestrian areas. This design will allow residents to access all of the structure’s facilities within a five-minute walk. In addition, a high-speed rail will allow occupants to travel from one end of The Line to the other in only 20 minutes.
“The designs revealed today 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,” Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also chair of the Neom board of directors, said in the July 25 statement. “The Line will tackle the challenges facing humanity in urban life today and will shine a light on alternative ways to live.”
At 500 meters above sea level, The Line also will boast a mirror façade that reflects the desert, blending the building with the surrounding landscape. With a year-round controlled climate, the Line also intends to run on entirely renewable energy.
Related Stories
High-rise Construction | Jan 4, 2017
In search of better data to optimize tall buildings
In spite of the ability to build tall and taller buildings—usually fully glazed, often in extreme climates with increasingly smart technologies—it could be argued that we are not similarly “rising to the occasion” in terms of optimization, writes Gensler's Russell Gilchrist.
High-rise Construction | Dec 15, 2016
Shenzhen’s newest supertall tower has topped out
The 350-meter-high building was designed by Morphosis and will provide over 2 million sf of office and retail space.
High-rise Construction | Dec 13, 2016
The tallest building in Manhattan’s Meatpacking district tops out
The office, designed by CetraRuddy, will be completed in 2017.
High-rise Construction | Dec 6, 2016
New York’s One Vanderbilt to have publicly accessible observation deck 1,020-feet above ground
The building, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox and developed by SL Green, will stand 1,401 tall.
High-rise Construction | Dec 2, 2016
Agora Garden, a twisting, plant-filled tower in Taipei, will absorb 130 tons of carbon dioxide annually once completed
The building sits just a few blocks from the LEED-Platinum certified Taipei 101, the world’s eighth tallest building.
High-rise Construction | Nov 7, 2016
Shanghai Tower wins CTBUH’s “Best Tall Building Worldwide” award for 2016
Shanghai Tower beat out three other finalists selected from 132 entries from around the world for the award.
High-rise Construction | Nov 3, 2016
Two identical Kohn Pederson Fox office towers may be headed to Wacker Drive
Murphy Development Group is looking for tenants for the $800 million project.
High-rise Construction | Nov 1, 2016
The world’s 100 tallest buildings: Which wind consultants have worked on the most?
The top firm has worked on almost half of the world’s 100 tallest buildings.
High-rise Construction | Nov 1, 2016
LEGOLAND Dubai unveils the Brick Khalifa, the world’s tallest LEGO replica building
The model is on display at the newly opened LEGOLAND Dubai.
High-rise Construction | Nov 1, 2016
Winthrop Square will give rise to Boston’s second tallest building
The building will become the tallest residential tower in the city.
