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Now, don't compare it to life style in the US, or anywhere else - this is one of a kind project, so we can only theorize and make assumptions - but try to think outside the box. Probable possibilities, pros and cons of such urban planning. I know, we are flaw seekers, fault finders and nit pickers - so, are we capable to seriously evaluate such project?
To me, it sounds like building a city somewhere in Space, but let's see how it goes... lol
So far, all we (only) know are cities built in circles.
And, yes, this is more like sci-fi concept and something we aren't used to see or live in.
But instead of dismissing it with one or two words, for the sake of it, we can at least analyse it
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Saudi Arabia announced its plans to build a desert linear city, called The Line, (a vertical city) on a scale never seen before in human history.
Centered around a main high-speed transportation network, The Line’s street-less, car-less design was touted as the future of human habitation.
The city - stretching from the Red City to the city of Tabuk 110 miles (177km) away - along with its estimated 9 million inhabitants would be entirely car-less, and instead be tied together by a high-speed rail system that could travel from one end of The Line to the other in just 20 minutes.
The city was designed to only be 200 meters (656 feet) wide, but 500 meters (1,640 feet) tall and 170 kilometers (105 miles) long.
Vertical layering of homes, offices, green spaces, and public schools as well as year-round climate control of all indoor and outdoor spaces will create a high quality of life.
Saudi Arabia is rich enough to not worry about money or costly obstacles, they just want to introduce a new concept.
And the construction already started (April 2022)
The first phase of the city supposed to be completed in only 7 years.
BTW: The Line is designed by US studio Morphosis and Parsons, a technology provider also based in the US
That country is weird as heck. They literally have no surface water and a lot of their existing water is fossil water. That's running out by the 2030s, where something like 80% of their water will come from desalination, which consumes an absurd amount of their power already.
And the eastern part is hot as hell, literally. Nobody lived there before oil cause the climate and water situation. The country is like a mini experiment for living on Mars. The problem is they have an extravagent, wasteful bent rather than a minimalist approach.
So, will the line city work? They have to do something besides what they have for water and climate. But the whole thing could just flop if the country hits the rocks with their numerous geopolitical rivals or theirs some hiccup in oil or water. I think success will depend on how much is modest vs excess with the roll out of line city is.
Not sure about water but the climate supposed to be controlled. Indoors and outdoors. So are they going to live in a capsule?
That's more and more resembling living on Mars. But I couldn't imagine breathing A/C air 24/7.
I guess all produce will be grown in hot houses too...
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That sounds ideal for a desert where it's hot, over 100F much of the year, with little water, no mountains, woods or other natural features that people would want to go to on a regular basis. Everything can want or need would be along the rail line.
There are very few other places where that system would work. I would never consider living in a place where I can't easily drive to the sea, mountains, lakes, rivers, and woods.
Not sure about water but the climate supposed to be controlled. Indoors and outdoors. So are they going to live in a capsule?
That's more and more resembling living on Mars. But I couldn't imagine breathing A/C air 24/7.
I guess all produce will be grown in hot houses too...
Seems a little bit like earthships in Taos - they aren't airtight (snakes get in lol), but the solar positioning and insulation keep the temps somewhat normal. A number of them have closed water loops like that as well, they come with their own set of problems, but it's kinda surprising what people can make work off of trucked in water.
I've always wondered how much people in extreme arid environments get out and wander around. Do they go on hikes in the desert? In some ways it seems like a drastic measure to be in a capsule, but how much of life in Dubai is already kinda like that, except for the brief periods on the sidewalk. It seems very futuristic, but it's actually not that much of a leap from the very odd urban arrangement that's already popped up on the Arabian peninsula.
The problem is that Saudi Arabia is literally a ticking time bomb in so many regards: politically, resource wise, population wise, religion wise etc... To pull off big projects you need stability. Saudi and Gulf state's urban planning will likely be an overreach on some sort of hyper indoor arrangment, but it will be a textbook example that people in 2250 will harken back to as a perpetual case study.
That sounds ideal for a desert where it's hot, over 100F much of the year, with little water, no mountains, woods or other natural features that people would want to go to on a regular basis. Everything can want or need would be along the rail line.
There are very few other places where that system would work. I would never consider living in a place where I can't easily drive to the sea, mountains, lakes, rivers, and woods.
Well, if you live in a desert then you don't have some choices. But they could build climate controlled indoor activity centers like they did in Dubai - ski slopes, water parks, autodrome, theme parks/resorts/adventures, and other variety of challenges - you name it, they build it. So, I am thinking no one would be bored there. And they could travel to visit beaches or other countries.
I am sure they thought about all that.
Actually it sounds more interesting like 120F in Arizona. But, hey - we might even learn something from them.
There is, so far, the only linear city, located in Russia - Volgograd. The city stretches for 90 km along the banks of the Volga and covers an area of 56.5 thousand hectares. Thanks to this layout, it also has the longest street in Russia: its famous Prodolnaya Street is more than 50 km long.
Built after WWII it's functioning very well.
Saudi Arabia's Neom: A prestigious project with a dark side
Jennifer Holleis | Kersten Knipp
05/18/2023May 18, 2023
The construction of the futuristic green Saudi city of Neom requires the resettlement of tribal people. Those who do not comply with the plans are sentenced to very long prison terms or to death.
Saudi Arabia is pushing forward with the construction of Neom, a futuristic megacity and ecological prestige project, despite international criticism over human rights violations.
According to a recent reportby the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) people from the Howeitat tribe who live in the region earmarked for the city have been displaced and their homes demolished without adequate compensation. What is more, one Howeitat man has been killed and the death sentences of three further tribe members have been confirmed, while three more have been handed 50-year jail sentences on terrorism charges.
"Despite being charged with terrorism, they were reportedly arrested for resisting forced evictions in the name of the Neom project and the construction of a 170-km (106-mile) linear city called The Line," the report said.
All these human rights violations have happened despite the promise by Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, 37-year-old Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — better known as MBS — that people affected by the construction work will be included in the planning and implementation processes.
The $500 billion (€462 billion) construction of Neom is the embodiment of Vision 2030, as Saudi Arabia's economic and societal overhaul has been dubbed. This set of reforms was introduced by MBS in 2017 and has so far led to improvements in women's rights, increased tourist access to the country, and the opening up of alternative income sources in a bid to diversify the kingdom's economy and reduce its dependence on oil revenues.
I don't think that respected companies from around the world would participate in that project without visioning its success. It's not always about money but more about reputation.
Keller (UK) is one of nine contractors that Neom has engaged for the foundations of The Line buildings.
The other eight are the local Al-Osais, France’s Bachy Soletanche, Germany’s Bauer, the local Huta, UAE-based NSCC, China’s PowerChina, the local Saudi Baytur and Italy’s Trevi.
Architects including Thom Mayne, Peter Cook and Reinier de Graaf have explained the thinking behind planned megacity The Line in a recently released 45-minute documentary. https://youtu.be/oamD9QoTH9M?si=nsOPsRdDHojx7VyR
US practices Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, Tom Wiscombe Architecture, US studio Aecom, Oyler Wu Collaborative and HOK; UK studios Adjaye Associates and Peter Cook's studio CHAP; Austria studios Coop Himmelb(l)au and Delugan Meissl Associated Architects are the architecture companies.
Neom is involved in 10 other projects that they refer to as regions. So far, details of four of the regions have been announced. These are The Line, which is the most well-known, as well as Oxagon, Trojena and Sindalah.
(Oxagon - to be the "world's largest floating structure" built on the Red Sea. Also the world's first and largest fully automated port and integrated logistics hub.
Trojena will have climbing walls, hiking and biking trails and a huge artificial lake.Trojena is set to be the first major outdoor skiing destination. Set to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games.
Sindalah island will be home to upscale resorts, luxury shopping outlets, superyacht marina and marine activities.) https://www.dezeen.com/2023/02/14/ne...-saudi-arabia/
We in the US might be a bit conservative, slow to embrace changes and focused on what is working for us, but building cities along highways is nothing new - many small US cities are built that way. The difference is that they are built along highways and people are dependent on cars.
So, what might not work for us, might work just great for others.
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