Life in THE LINE. How the world's first vertical eco-city will function

/ Urbanism /

The NEOM team has begun construction of THE LINE, a vertical car-free city that will consist of just one fully mirrored structure. The project is being implemented in Saudi Arabia near the Red Sea.

The unique 500-meter structure, designed for 9 million people, 170 kilometers long and 200 meters wide, will allow rethinking the relationship between architecture and the natural environment. 

THE LINE concept proposes to change the usual idea of ​​"flat cities". Here, residential, educational, cultural, commercial and other facilities, together with a large public space, will be organized vertically and three-dimensionally.

"We call this approach "weightlessness urbanism". It reduces the area of ​​the city to two percent of London, which has the same population," - explains NEOM's Director of Urban Planning, Tarek Kaddumi.

THE LINE will stretch 170 kilometers along the coast of the Red Sea. Visualization: NEOM

THE LINE will run on 100% renewable energy. Thanks to the ergonomics of the interior spaces, the city will not require the use of cars, and the main way of movement will be walking. "THE LINE will provide access to people and services in ways previously unimaginable," - he says Kaddumi

We are talking about the introduction of individual or group shuttles into the infrastructure, which will transport city residents at a height "without the need for access to the natural ground level." This type of transport will be used for long trips. 

Life in THE LINE will be devoid of car traffic. Visualization: NEOM

A high-speed railway will be built to cover long distances. Thanks to it, movement between the final points of the city will take no more than 20 minutes.

THE LINE will run on 100% renewable energy. Visualization: NEOM

Despite the high density of the building, the building will have enough natural light on all its levels and spaces, according to NEOM. This will be achieved thanks to The Mirror Line mirror facades.

 

"New wonder of the world". The concept of a vertical city without cars THE LINE in Saudi Arabia

 

“The facade will have ample opportunities to allow the city to breathe, as the space in the mirrors is a combination of open space, parks, squares and paths, as well as internal private and public areas. Our role as planners is to measure and determine the amount of light that passes through the mass of the city," says Tarek Kaddumi.

THE LINE mirror facades. Visualization: NEOM

Since the mirror building will be located in the middle of seascapes, NEOM thought about how to minimize the impact on the lives of the surrounding populations. The Line will use a special facade treatment, thanks to which birds should not crash into it. In addition, they promise to ensure the proper functioning of "natural corridors".

"Terrestrial animals and water currents will move through prepared corridors on the earth plane. In addition, birds flying at different altitudes will also have their own defined natural corridors, designed in combination with the right glass treatment, ceramic frit, glass transparency and reflectance factors,” the developers assure.

Developers minimize the risk of interference in the lives of animals by taking into account "natural corridors" in the project. Visualization: NEOM

Currently, the technical and economic feasibility study of the project has been completed and piling work for the first phase of construction has started. The plan is planned to be implemented by 2030.

 

 

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