Saudi Arabia reveals 170-kilometre-long mirrored skyscraper to house nine million people

[Celerity]

https://www.dezeen.com/2022/07/26/neon-170-kilometre-long-skyscraper-city-saudi-arabia/







The Saudi Arabian government has unveiled visuals of a 500-metre-tall linear city named The Line, which will be built near the Red Sea as part of Neom. Set to stretch 170 kilometres across northwest Saudi Arabia, the megastructure, which will have mirrored facades, will be 500 metres tall, but only 200 meters wide. Planned as part of the Neom development, The Line was designed as a dramatic alternative to traditional cities that typically radiate out from a central point. Although it has not been officially announced, Dezeen understands that the megastructure was designed by US studio Morphosis.







"At The Line’s launch last year, we committed to a civilizational revolution that puts humans first based on a radical change in urban planning," said Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. "The designs revealed today for the city's vertically layered communities will challenge the traditional flat, horizontal cities and create a model for nature preservation and enhanced human liveability," he continued. "The Line will tackle the challenges facing humanity in urban life today and will shine a light on alternative ways to live."







The structure will consist of two wall-like structures that will enclose an open area between them. At 500 metres high the pair of structures will become the 12th highest building in the world, as well as being by far the longest. The structure, which was designed to house nine million residents when it is complete, will contain residential, retail and leisure areas as well as schools and parks. The different functions will be stacked in an arrangement described by the city's creators as Zero Gravity Urbanism.





Visuals show parks placed between the two linear blocks, which will be connected by multiple bridges and topped with more green spaces. It will be entirely clad in mirrored facades to give the structure a unique appearance. "The Line will have an outer mirror facade that will provide its unique character and allow even its small footprint to blend with nature, while the interior will be built to create extraordinary experiences and magical moments," said the Saudi Arabian government. A transport system running the length of the megastructure would be designed to connect both ends of the city within 20 minutes. According to the Saudi Arabian government, the structure will be entirely powered by renewable energy and was designed as a sustainable alternative to traditional cities.

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[spooky3]

1. Looks nightmarish. Nt

[Alexander Of Assyria]

2. Yes. The murderous regime is trying to buy to respect and love...other than love of oil.

Saudi murderers sure know the way to the Western business heart is through the wallet.

[LonePirate]

3. Seems like an inefficient and expensive way to house 9M people but I doubt that's the point.

[BlueSky3]

4. I'd love to see

stats on the environmental impact of this "city". And the health impact of packing so many humans so closely together.

[Coventina]

15. If there's anything the Saudis don't care about (and there are MANY)

it's the environment.

[fierywoman]

5. And the rising nearby sea?

[Eyeball_Kid]

9. Hah! The lower floors can be converted into a sea aquarium!

But we should wonder if Saudi Arabia's oil fields will be pumped dry before half of this foolish project is completed. Saudi Arabia isn't fond of an egalitarian social structure, so we should anticipate that there will be plenty of room for ghettos and dirt poor populations within the wall. Or will they just be excluded and banished to the desert?

[highplainsdem]

6. Doubt it will ever be completely built (and I'd wonder what sort of labor they'd use), but even

if it is finished someday, I wouldn't bet against nature soon showing what a mistake it was...

[Blues Heron]

7. Birds will fly straight into those mirrored sides and die by the millions if this is built

I don’t think this will ever materialize though, it’s too silly.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

8. Looks like a level that's present in pretty much every dystopian-future video game ever made (nt)

[ret5hd]

10. "Mom! I'm going to over to Ali's!"

“Where does Ali live?”

“Just at the end of the street!”

“OK, just be home for dinner.”

And that was the last he was ever seen.

[Celerity]

11. lolol

[3catwoman3]

12. Ummmm -

- Nope.

[malthaussen]

13. The shade of Paolo Soleri is smiling

I don't particularly like the interior concepts, and I do wonder about things like earthquakes and sandstorms. But a breathtaking concept nonetheless, one I doubtless won't live to see completed.

-- Mal

[Coventina]

14. Won't be built in my lifetime, I'll bet.

In fact, I'm willing to bet on "never."

My husband has gone to KSA many times, they have half-built and abandoned projects all over the place.