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.
![The Line ext 2](/sites/default/files/inline-images/The%20Line%20ext%202.jpeg)
Related Stories
High-rise Construction | Mar 28, 2016
SOM’s Salt Lake City skyscraper uses innovative structural system to suspend itself over a neighboring building
The hat truss-supported office tower was topped off in January, rising 25 stories above the Salt Lake City streets.
High-rise Construction | Mar 18, 2016
'High-Rise' movie, based on the novel of the same name, headed to theaters
The story, which was originally thought to be a critique of London’s city planning, takes place in a high-rise divided to mimic the historical class structure of Western society.
High-rise Construction | Mar 10, 2016
Bigger, taller, wider: London’s skyline is about to have a major growth spurt
More than 100 tall buildings have been added to the plans for the capital city since this time last year, and the overall number of tall buildings planned for London is now over 400.
High-rise Construction | Mar 9, 2016
Seismic Design Working Group calls for participation in peer review process
Research at an advanced stage.
High-rise Construction | Mar 8, 2016
Weston Williamson designs vertical neighborhood with ‘kissing towers’ in Hong Kong
The towers will connect between the 21st and 25th floors. The entire complex will sit above a high-speed rail line.
High-rise Construction | Mar 7, 2016
Russian architect Vasily Klyukin unveils design for Asian Cobra Tower
The skyscraper, which can change colors and would house a nightclub in its "mouth," is the latest idea from an unconventional thinker.
High-rise Construction | Mar 3, 2016
LA's U.S. Bank Tower to build exterior glass slide leading from 70th to 69th floors
The glass slide, part of a $50 million renovation project, will stretch 45 feet along the exterior of the building.
High-rise Construction | Mar 3, 2016
HOK’s Hertsmere House will be Western Europe’s tallest residential tower
Recently approved for development, the 67-story building will have more than 900 units.
High-rise Construction | Feb 29, 2016
China’s best new skyscrapers: Wangjing SOHO and Asia Pacific Tower are among CTBUH award winners
The award program’s first year honored projects, designers, and builders stretched across six distinct awards categories for high-rise construction.
High-rise Construction | Feb 25, 2016
Kohn Pedersen Fox wants to build a mile-high tower in Tokyo
The tower would be the centerpiece of Next Tokyo, a mini city in Tokyo Bay adapted to climate change and rising tides.