At this week’s MIPIM24 event in Paris, Giles Pendleton, Chief Operating Officer of THE LINE at NEOM, shared a new progress video, offering a realistic look at the development of this ambitious project.
Released on his social media profile, Pendleton writes, "NEOM is real #13”, indirectly responding to the criticisms in the foreign press.
THE LINE, part of Saudi Arabia's NEOM megaproject, aims to revolutionize urban living with its unique concept and scale. It is exactly what the name suggests, a line.
If you haven’t heard, the development, as part of the broader $500 billion NEOM initiative, is a bold experiment in creating a sustainable, technology-driven future. The city is built in one giant edifice without the need for regular transport systems.
Designed as a massive mirrored skyscraper laid horizontally across the desert, this structure stretches an impressive 105 miles in length and 200 meters in width.
This linear city is planned to be segmented into approximately 140 modules, each 800 meters in length, capable of housing around 80,000 people. This modular approach not only facilitates phased construction but also promises a diverse urban experience, with each module designed to offer something unique.
The initial phase will see the development of the first five modules, each undertaken by different architecture firms chosen from a competitive field of twenty. This strategy ensures a variety of architectural expressions and innovations within the project. Comparisons have been drawn between THE LINE and historical marvels such as Babylon, reflecting the project's ambitious scale and the potential to redefine the essence of city living for future generations.
The video showcasing the biggest earthworks operation in the world currently (it could even be in history, looking at the sheer size and depth of the project) requires thousands of workers and trucks, according to the video.
As Pendleton notes THE LINE promises a shift from conventional city living, with essential services accessible within a five-minute walk and significantly reducing the urban footprint on nature.
Pendleton's presentation in Paris was less about selling a dream and more about showing real progress.
Earlier Architect Thom Mayne described THE LINE as a complex project with a simple overarching concept in a Discovery documentary on the project.
Mayne, alongside his team, conceived the design for THE LINE and emerged victorious in a competitive submission process.
The documentary features insights from the project's architects and even includes remarks from Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who addresses the skepticism surrounding the project's feasibility with a defiant optimism.
CEO of NEOM’s 'THE LINE' highlights latest progress