Back in 2005, the Saudi government announced plans to create a new city (from scratch) on its western coast that will be the size of Washington D.C. The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat reports that construction is already under way.
The city is named after the late King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, who died in January 2015. Its formal name is the King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC).
Having a city on the peninsular country’s western coast will give it access to the Suez Canal, reflecting the government’s attempt to diversify its oil-dependent economy by focusing more in its shipping industry.
According to the CTBUH, Saudi Arabia hopes the port will be part of a new Silk Road that will connect with Mediterranean countries and Southern Europe.
Eric Reguly, a journalist of Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper, who visited the under-construction city a few months ago, said the site looks more like a movie set.
“The rest of the city is pretty much an expanse of nothing, save for a suburb of villas, an international school and, a dozen kilometers to the north, a container-ship port, and a few factories in an area that could double as a stage set for a Mad Max film,” Reguly writes.
During a recent interview with Public Radio International, Reguly said that the city’s reliance on cars is an obvious flaw. “"It's going to be very much dependent on cheap oil," he adds, which was the very thing the city was designed to avoid.
For more information on the project, visit The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat and Globe and Mail.
Related Stories
Mixed-Use | Sep 27, 2016
10 Design wins competition to design huge mixed-use development in China
China Resources Land, New Fenghong Real Estate Development, and China Resources Trust have designated 50 billion yuan for the construction of the development.
High-rise Construction | Sep 12, 2016
Bangkok’s tallest tower is also one of its most unique
At 1,030 feet tall, MahaNakhon Tower’s height is only outdone by its arresting design.
Mixed-Use | Sep 9, 2016
Rolled book scroll-inspired mixed-use project from Aedas planned for Chongqing, China
With a bookstore at the heart of the development, the project looks to exemplify an ancient Chinese proverb that says “knowledge brings wealth.”
Mixed-Use | Sep 8, 2016
Former sports stadium to become landscaped gardens, housing, and shops
According to the architects, Maison Edouard François, the project will act as a new green lung for the densely populated neighborhood.
Mixed-Use | Aug 16, 2016
Goettsch Partners completes mixed-use tower in R&F Yingkai Square
The 66-story building is now the 7th tallest completed building in Guangzhou.
High-rise Construction | Jul 26, 2016
Perkins+Will unveils plans for what will be Atlanta’s second-tallest tower
The 74-story 98 Fourteenth Street will be a mixed-use building with retail space and luxury residential units.
Mixed-Use | Jul 18, 2016
Studio Libeskind designs jagged mixed-use tower for Lithuania’s capital
The glass facade, and spaces for restaurants, a luxury hotel, and offices will lure visitors and tenants.
Retail Centers | May 10, 2016
5 factors guiding restaurant design
Restaurants are more than just places to eat. They are comprising town centers and playing into the future of brick-and-mortar retail.
Mixed-Use | May 1, 2016
A man-made lagoon with a Bellagio-like fountain will be the highlight of a mixed-use project outside Dallas
Construction will soon begin on housing, retail, and office spaces.
Mixed-Use | Apr 24, 2016
Atlanta’s Tech Square is establishing The ATL’s Midtown district as a premier innovation center
A much anticipated, Portman-developed tower project will include collaborative office spaces, a data center, and a retail plaza.
