The Line

NEOM / Saudi Arabia

The expected doubling of the urban population between now and 2050 demands intelligent architectural solutions. We will continue to face existing challenges like climate change, inequality and aging infrastructures while also being confronted by new demands in such areas as mobility, competitiveness, security and health and wellbeing.

As part of the project THE LINE, innovative solutions to urban challenges are being tested in the shape of the vertical city concept. When folding the city together and extending it upwards, the advantages are immediately clear: a lower CO2 footprint, better integration, more open space and improved sustainability.

Our design for THE LINE is conceived as a 2.4-km-long section of a linear city, which will be perceived as a continuous space and create the illusion of an endless urban landscape. All the buildings are connected by paths or areas of greenery, creating a unique, immersive urban experience that questions and reinterprets our traditional understanding of the urban context. The focus of zero gravity urbanism is integration, sustainability and public space for both citizens and the environment.

Year

2025

Sectors

  • Cities + Places
Black and white portrait of Adrian McGregor, a middle-aged man with short, curly hair wearing a dark blazer over a V-neck shirt. He is facing the camera and smiling slightly against a plain background.
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A futuristic, linear city stretches across a desert landscape near the coastline. Infographic text describes “The Line” project: 170 km long, 200 m wide, 34 sq. km footprint, and 500 m above sea level, with a focus on urbanism and modular design.
A map showing NEOM’s "The Line," a 170 km linear city crossing coastal desert, mountain, and upper valley regions, highlighting 95% nature preserved and images of each ecological zone.
A diagram of “The Line” at Neom shows a vertical city module with colored sections for amenities, arrows indicating natural ventilation, and text highlighting zero carbon emissions, 5-min walk to amenities, and access to nature.
A futuristic, straight linear city stretches across a desert landscape next to a coastline with deep blue water, mountains in the background, and arid terrain in the foreground.

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