Located within NEOM in the Northwest of Saudi Arabia, The Line is a linear city that will be built on a footprint of just 34 square kilometres. The city intends to eventually accommodate over nine million people. The mirror facade allows the city to seamlessly blend into the nature around it.
“It will be a cruise hub like Fort Lauderdale in Florida or Montenegro in the Mediterranean. The Red Sea is a fantastic boating area. And we don’t have tornadoes, we don’t have hurricanes. It’s very stable with great weather and beautiful crystal clear waters,” said Giles Pendleton, Executive Director, THE LINE.
The city will be just 200 metres wide but 170 kilometres long and 500 meters above sea level with ideal climate throughout the year and a high-speed rail offering residents end-to-end transit in 20 minutes.
The linear city, which is being built in the kingdom’s north-west Tabuk province, recently saw excavators digging a wide trench in the desert.
The project is part of the $500 billion NEOM project, a futuristic city with a mixed-use development, containing spaces for work, play and living.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said “The Line” will embody “Zero Gravity Urbanism,” where city functions are layered vertically.
One of the features of The Line revealed was ‘ideal climate throughout the year’ To ensure the establishment of microclimatic spaces, the environment has been designed to allow for an optimal balance of sunlight, shade and natural ventilation. Furthermore, the green open spaces throughout the city will enhance the comfort for those living, working and visiting the city, the website describes.
When asked about the reason behind the mirrored walls, Pendleton explained that “if the building was black, it would stand out. With a mirrored façade, wherever you are looking you will see the land behind you.”
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