The Line – BWK Engineers Help Build World’s First Linear City

The Line is going to be many things – the world’s first linear city and the longest building.

The project plans for The Line were unveiled in January 2021 by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Placed within the NEOM area, and currently in development, The Line is aiming to be a mirrored, 170-kilometer-long, 500-meter-tall, and 200-meter-wide structure in the middle of the Saudi desert.

The Line is planned to become home to 9 million residents, operate completely without conventional cars, and offer all essential services within a 5-minute walking distance.

Let’s unpack this immense new development project to see how it’s envisioned.

With this bold step into the future, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman aims to create a sustainable, carbon-neutral community that prioritizes the well-being of its residents.

This will be achieved by putting two parallel skyscrapers clad in a mirror-glass facade and then placing pedestrian and communal areas, as well as lush gardens in between. The two facades will be connected by walkways.

The main idea is to take a bold step into the future by turning the typical horizontal infrastructure of a city on its head, and building vertically, thus controlling urban sprawl.

What they hope to achieve with The Line:

• Reduce the need for personal cars and classic roads
• Power the city entirely with renewable, clean energy
• Optimize life using AI
• Produce zero carbon emissions
• Have zero classic streets
• Have no pollution
• Ensure that the citizens have all their needs met by a 5-minute walk
• Provide access to nature within a 2-minute walking distance

The city will be structured on 3 different levels:

1. The surface level – the ground level with the complete pedestrian zone and no roads or cars. This is where residents will enjoy green spaces and parks.
2. The living and service level – where housing and commercial facilities will be located.
3. The underground level – the “spine of the city” dedicated to transportation and infrastructure.

On the surface level, residents will have access to vast green spaces and parks, providing them with ample opportunities for recreation and relaxation. The absence of cars and roads will create a safe and peaceful environment, free from traffic accidents, noise, and pollution. Instead, transportation will be handled by a network of underground tunnels, which will minimize the impact on the environment and provide a seamless experience for residents, allowing end-to-end transit in just 20 minutes.

The living level will be the center of daily life, with housing and commercial areas designed to promote community and collaboration. The architecture will prioritize natural light and open spaces, creating an environment that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The city will also be equipped with cutting-edge technology, such as 5G connectivity, AI-powered homes, and advanced robotics, to enhance the quality of life for its residents.

The transportation level, deep underground, will make it possible to move people and goods quickly and efficiently. The Line will rely on advanced technologies like autonomous vehicles to ensure that transportation is efficient, reliable, and safe. This ultra-fast public transit system (freight, metro, high-speed trains) will make it possible for citizens to travel the entire length of The Line in under 20 minutes.

Saudi Arabia is taking a bold step into the future with The Line and sets a new standard of sustainable development by prioritizing the well-being of citizens.

This utopian project will bring a major shift in the way we envision urban living. At the same time, it will demonstrate Saudi Arabia’s true commitment to innovation and its leadership in creating a more sustainable future. From the seamless transportation network and cutting-edge technology to lush green spaces – the entire project is human-centered and offers us a glimpse of a new way of life.

The construction began in fall 2022, with the scale of the project and the construction site visible in these satellite images.

Check out this drone footage shared by Dezeen that reveals more details about the construction of the Line:

Drone footage reveals The Line megacity under construction in Saudi Arabia How we are contributing: