The 9 million inhabitant city will only be 200 meters wide, 500 meters above sea level and 170 kilometers long. The linear superstructure, reminiscent of radical ideas by Superstudio, aims to redefine the concept of urban development.
The city will be free of roads, cars and emission and run on 100% renewable energy. The concept prioritizes people's health and well-being over infrastructure as in traditional cities. Nature ahead of development. 95% of NEOM’s land, located northwest of Saudi Arabia at the red sea, will be preserved.
"THE LINE will tackle the challenges facing humanity in urban life today and will shine a light on alternative ways to live. We cannot ignore the livability and environmental crises facing our world’s cities, and NEOM is at the forefront of delivering new and imaginative solutions to address these issues. NEOM is leading a team of the brightest minds in architecture, engineering and construction to make the idea of building upwards a reality."
- His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman
Within the compact 34 34 square kilometers footprint, residents will have access to all facilities within a five minute walk. A high-speed rail provides end-to-end transit in 20 minutes.
The city’s vertically layered communities are an attempt to preserve nature and enhance human livability. Inhabitants can move seamlessly in three dimensions, referred to as Zero Gravity Urbanism.
The Crown Prince sees the city as one of the most important projects for the Saudi Vision 2030. He imagines NEOM can deliver new and imaginative solutions to address the global environmental crises world’s cities face.
THE LINE offers a new approach to urban design: The idea of layering city functions vertically while giving people the possibility of moving seamlessly in three dimensions (up, down or across) to access them is a concept referred to as Zero Gravity Urbanism. Different from just tall buildings, this concept layers public parks and pedestrian areas, schools, homes and places for work, so that one can move effortlessly to reach all daily needs within five minutes.
