Hudson Honeybone, '26
“The Line” is a 500 billion dollar urban project under construction in Neom, Saudi Arabia. The linear city will cover 85 square kilometers, 170 km in length, but only 500 meters wide. The compact dimensions will drastically reduce the carbon footprint of the city, preserving the natural landscape of the Neom province. The Line is a reimagined form of city life, which prioritizes the health of its residents over city infrastructure and income. The project was first proposed in 2017 by Saudi Arabian Prince Mohammed bin Salam, in partnership with the newly formed urban task force NEOM. It has been called the most ambitious architectural undertaking of the century and is intended to serve as an international beacon of human ingenuity and innovation: “a civilizational revolution.”
The Architecture and Design of The Line
Rising 500m above sea level, The Line will be entirely powered by renewable energy, featuring solar and wind farms, hydro-dams, and green hydrogen facilities. The city is strategically placed on the bustling Red Sea commercial route, which supports 13% of the world’s trade. Moreover, The Line will have access to one of the world’s richest oil reserves in Saudi Arabia, which houses 17% of the world's known petroleum supply. Its particular position in the Middle East will ensure its economic viability and facilitate its growth into a commercial powerhouse. The Saudi Prince envisions The Line as a hub of global diplomacy, offering a convenient location where delegates can congregate and discuss international policy. This will solidify Saudi Arabia’s foothold in international politics, while also granting the country leverage in cosmopolitan dealings. In terms of accommodation, The Line is designed to house 9 million people, with a population density of 260,000 residents/km2 . For context, the world's densest city right now is Manila, Philippines, which houses just over 44,000 people/ km2 and feels as crowded as the picture looks:
The Line’s public and personal services will be automated by AI, streamlining everyday life. The city will emphasize the integration of greenspaces and plant life in order to create an optimal microclimate that balances shade, comfort, and natural ventilation. All daily necessities will be accessible within a 5-minute walk, entirely eliminating the need for cars and their carbon emissions. The preliminary models of The Line resemble a dense cyberpunk utopia adapted straight from a sci-fi film. Its reflective glass exterior pierces the arid landscape, creating a
highly futuristic look. Inside, the city is compactly layered with a narrow alleyway in the center. However, the slim design won’t compromise its livability and diversity of resources; it will be fully equipped with premier entertainment, industry, and education districts that offer “more than a standard city could ever.” (https://www.neom.com/en-us/regions/theline. ).
Neom - The Line
Feasibility and Hurdles
At launch in 2017, NEOM projected that the LINE would be completed by 2030, but as city construction has finally gotten underway, it seems increasingly unlikely that they will meet their deadline. According to Saudi sources, NEOM has struggled to attract investors and financial supporters, delaying the development phase. A prolonged construction period would drastically increase the cost and further deter investors. On top of their financial difficulties, NEOM faces technological and engineering challenges as well. The technological promises of the “cognitive city” far exceed the resources at Saudi Arabia's disposal, possibly foreshadowing the Line’s fate as yet another overimagined and unfinished megaproject. Finally, such an architectural masterpiece might not even be achievable with the present level of human engineering. With so many doubts and uncertainties, only time will tell. And time is usually brutally unforgiving.
コメント