THE LINE: Saudi Arabia's City of the Future in NEOM

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Join experts as they discuss The Line, a linear vertical city that could be the first step into revolutionising how architects approach organising urban living.
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[@MegaRetr]

This documentary is a masterclass in saying very little over a 45min period.

[@victorminea2005]

I think tehy got sponsored by the saudi s.

[@andrewbrenner7120]

Was too long. Could have been cut down

[@davidv1219]

My thoughts exactly.... I was multi-tasking at my desk while this played in the background. After a few minutes, I stopped and was like, "Nothing of substance has been said yet. It's just fluff and filler." Playing that mysterious music in the background feels condescending. It's not blowing my mind.

[@DubElementMusic]

so basically a american documentation :D

[@WHatchitW]

Because this is s scam. A scam on a scale never before seen.

[@chemicalwonderland2492]

Scientists are so preoccupied with the thought of if they could, never asking themselves if they should.

[@samkeats2333]

So glad i read the comments before wasting 45 minutes of my life

[@Pulsonar]

I gave you the 45th thumbs up for not wasting 45 minutes of your life, but to spend 4.5 secs to read my useless comment instead 😂

[@user-nk4kc4qo1t]

Villages become towns become cities organically, based on local environment, rivers, socio economic factors, opportunities etc. This looks like the potential for the largest white elephant in history.

[@kogguk]

No engineers just philosophers talking about concepts

[@smetljesm2276]

The fact these "proffesionals" can stand on camera with a straight face in presenting this as a good idea is mind boggling.

[@teddymoon3744]

the westerners will never buy a 2nd home here. the religion and freedom does not exist in saudi. without freedom u have nothing.

[@Twiceonasunday]

Look at around 26.32 in…the designer rubs his nose in classic lying body language…even he doesn’t believe what is coming out of his mouth.

[@smetljesm2276]

@@Twiceonasunday Yeah it's pretty obvious through the video they are just milking hmit for the money and will look to blame developers when it fails

[@Twiceonasunday]

@@smetljesm2276 yer man Peter Cook continuing to use disparaging phrases such as “bean counter” essentially confirms the reasons why he has built almost nothing in 50/60 years.

[@peitreq6]

The answer is simple: big money from a country built on fossil fuel

[@jewymchoser]

I have to give Discovery credit… to leave the comments on for this advert was really brave!

[@spottdrossel100]

Ja, wirklich sehr brav und artig... Euer englisch ist eine kaputte und lächerliche Sprache.

[@nhilistickomrad4259]

15k Saud sponsored Chinese likes 7k actual video viewers

[@aruba8695]

All these architects are so positive, this is like informatial and all got paid for it.. All those that were negative are not shown or dead.

[@chautruong7]

Seriously, this documentary was 44 minutes long, and I still don't know how this linear city works. I have so many question: How does this city connect to other cities (at the end? or are there multiple connection points of going in and out of this city?). Are all the social spaces on the inner corridor? Is the entire exterior façade made out of reflective glass without any openings? It's the desert...so where are they getting all their water for 9 million people? Couldn't they get any one of these architects and thinkers to talk about the technicalities of this linear city a bit, instead of over intellectualizing the concept in the most grandiose terms?

[@i.k.8868]

Nobody knows how it would work, so no one could tell you. It is all bogus bs.

[@wanrazul]

Ultimately...what's the purpose of it all?

[@i.k.8868]

@@wanrazul Corruption. Just stealing from the average Saudi...

[@EisCrasher]

1. Hyperloop is planned all through the line and saudi arabia als transportation 2. there are already working methods to transform sea water into drinking water 3. the mirrors are see through so there will be daylight all through the line But yea all theoretical i really watched this video to get informed and had to research a bit more to get into how they imagine it to work but im highly critical on the budget and realising plans on this

[@i.k.8868]

@@EisCrasher Hyperloop is a scam. It is non-existing technology and is virtually impossible.

[@Belmeck]

This is going to be one of the largest abandoned projects humans have ever made and I'm here for it!

[@shsa905]

2:38

[@bort-]

@@shsa905 No one is saying they won't complete it. I know they have the money and manpower to do it. But why would Saudi people choose to live there. It just doesn't make any sense.

[@mamasiah]

Nah

[@Belmeck]

@@mamasiah 3 years from now, go to google and type what happened to project Neom

[@Alderite]

Probably not, this is their way of escaping their economy out of oil dependency since Saudi won't exist for the next few decades. Either massively switch your economy to Technological and Tourism than none at all.

[@alexbeu3086]

I don't know whether or not it will work as a city, but it would surely make the world's COOLEST PRISON!

[@eyobgebretsadik278]

You are right if this was in US but Saudi is totally desert even if you have a city that is traditional it is barren, literally sand and you wouldn’t feel the grass, moist ground and fresh air so they have chosen wisely to create their own surrounding.

[@CyberCharm34]

Look, it’s not exactly a prison There’s gonnna be a airport built beside it, the airport is gonna be called the neom Bay airport

[@jimmypalmisano9116]

Just for women

[@iterhaar701]

Its unclear to me what plants they are using, as for the renders they are not native to saudi arabia. This will endager the local environment. Artifical eco systems may introduce invasive vegetable or animals species that threaten the local environment. Also as far as daylight needed for these plants goes: its either relying on the big gap in between the 2 mirrored lines, how deep does that sunlight go? and the incredible cost they should take to ventilate all that in a 100 degree desert environment or they are counting on natural shadow for ventilation but how to these plants grow then? Burj Khalifa is known for its bad plumbing, how would it be any different here and even magnifying for 9 million people, that doesnt feel like fresh air to me@@eyobgebretsadik278

[@blehbleh5095]

Compared to the US' urban sprawl, anti-pedestrian, and car-centric designed cities?

[@Aby0ni2]

The facade cannot be this glamorous seamless surface in reality.

[@Niuway44]

Watch a movie called “ The platform “ . This will show you how this city will turn out.

[@RogansDMTpipe]

That movie is awesome

[@topg4717]

A masterpiece movie

[@waritha-u-ra9348]

There gonna speak Spanish ? 😂😂😂

[@m.starro9015]

they're@@waritha-u-ra9348

[@jewbme]

Floor by floor hahaha

[@user-kn1ux4jb6x]

this isn't a documentary, this is simply a PR video of the The Line.

[@Trubaster]

Exactly!!!!!! And nobody seems to f’n get it 🤦🏻

[@Twiceonasunday]

All these old men…fantasist architects of an older generation topping up the pension and massaging the Princes ego to keep the gravy train going. Old Pete Cook living off his 60s drawings and rich daddy who allowed him to dream not work seriously.

[@baz3184]

You don't understand. They are gona have free money, flying cars and cure cancer

[@jonvongeronimo]

I was just about to comment the same thing. I was explaining s documentary with more details. It’s just a bunch of people talking about how great it’s going to be with background music.

[@WSMITHify]

And the line is designed to enslave humanity and must be opposed vehemently

[@MABCEO]

I’m getting into the glass business

[@hansofaxalia]

“They keep saying these projects in Saudi Arabia can’t be done, and we can keep proving them wrong.”😶

[@finlayjohnman519]

Love the planners, architects, academics and authors who are selling their soul for this.

[@TAK144]

Selling their souls for doing their job? U might as well stay in bed with that mentality. Joke of a comment weirdo

[@UnknownSend3r]

Get off your high horse. It’s a once in a century mega project why wouldn’t a professional want to be involved. It’s funny the type to criticise Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries are silent on French exploitation of Africa, not just the typical taking “advantage” of developing countries, but actual systemic plundering in natural resource and complete fiscal control of “sovereign countries” or Americas wonton destruction of poor countries and causing 10’s of millions of refugees and 100k dead, but that’s okay because it’s for “freedom” or Israel’s literal apartheid ethnostate but go ahead tell us how bad it is from your elevated pedestal.

[@user-gq4yh6vk4j]

Кому, дьяволу?

[@Acampandoconfrikis]

Look around you. Architecture is a joke since the 50s

[@ranjithpowell6791]

Just because you don't agree with them, they are selling their souls? You sound extremely jealous.

[@d3loff]

It will be an interesting experiment and I would very much like to see the results of it, but as an engineer on the first thoughts I have some fundamental questions about it: 1. How will people travel outside of this city and get back to it? 2. If its two structures parallel to each other how will the light come in to the living spaces which will be located from the second row inwards? 3. How will the air move between the two lines? Wouldn't that create potential health hazard and opportunities for various diseases to develop much easily than in open space? 4. How will the city be supplied with literally everything and how the goods will be transported to the different locations without even electric cars? 5. Wouldn't the removal of all this "points of freedom" present in today's cities create great power inefficiency which therefore will require enormous amounts of electricity? Just thoughts.

[@arch_info]

i guess it will be steel structure and outside will be glass type material. which will be opaque from outside.

[@arch_info]

there will be transportaion like railways to transfer goods. air will be circulated through top opening. i have seen some other clips where they have shown air circulation but I am not sure about which system they will be using

[@jimmypalmisano9116]

I'm just wondering how big the crew of people will be to be shoving sand 24/7 from the outside of the 200 lineal miles, because that sand builds up every day, especially when there's sand storms 🤔

[@arch_info]

@@jimmypalmisano9116 dont worry they r using hundreds of excavators. No hand work is going on.

[@YankMil1]

@@arch_infowell we know how much slave labor it will take to build and maintain

[@knowjamaica1602]

There is really a thin line between genius and madness .. the more things change the more they remain the same. When you don’t learn from the past your bound to repeat it.

[@jacksonstone246]

that was so cliche

[@batrazalbegov3947]

31:20 «We have the cash, we have the land» lmao this got me 💯

[@m.starro9015]

right? lol

[@user-wu8ms7qe5p]

Just can't get people to travel there 😂

[@buttercup2728]

lmao ❤😂😂😂😂❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@shuckification]

Still no answer for many questions. We live in a world with a ecosystem. Once we forget about other animals and insects that lives in that ecosystem then we are too late to be doomed.

[@royrice8021]

Every time I read about this the Tower of Babel comes to mind………..🤔🤔🤔😳

[@Woopor]

The only thing this line will possibly be good for is giving architects and engineers some more experience before the project inevitably gets cancelled before construction begins. If you can figure out how a giant line city would work and how to build it, you can definitely figure out how to build more efficient, cheap, and functional buildings and cities

[@themanwiththeplan59]

This documentary is a masterclass in saying very little over a 45min period. How many variations on “We are reinventing how a city is built” can there be? The project itself however is pretty awesome!

[@Hello_there_obi]

No it’s an ecological and social nightmare. This is just a stupid vanity project to attract tourism. It’s incredibly dumb

[@jasonmilton]

The Saudis have way too much money on there hands.... This is the dumbest idea ever!!

[@marzv888]

Minute 33 is when realized this is just the same thing over and over of nothing..

[@Fadiyra2319]

42:55 this clip summarize everything

[@Fadiyra2319]

This doc is to tell you that there’s this idea of building a linear city .. since it’s the first of it’s kind in human history we still don’t know how exactly it will be. But we should start thinking from now

[@sohilronagh286]

Looks like a static "Snowpiercer" or the "Silo" (on its side). 1. Will it not feels claustrophobic with 500m high walls on both sides and central opening? 2. Will light get to the base of double 500m high walls? or will the base become dark slums for the working class, as not as desirable due to lack of light? 3. Internally the rendered images look like a dream, what about the local ecosystem be impacted? how many birds will get killed by flying into the reflective glass? 4. Will the top of line be closed off (become like a Glass house) or will it be open to the elements? 5. Will the LINE feel monotonous and repetative, Some of the great cities have twists and turns? and unique architeture designed by many types of people and back ground. 6. Will you constantly have to go up and down elevators / stairs? 7. How will people get here by train? or will there be airports? 8. Cities have industrial sites and factories? or will there not be any manufacturing here only digital commerce and trade? I hope this experimental city works and can become an efficent and sustainable city and a model for future cities. But many many problems will have to be solved prior to its success.

[@hazel2546]

your forgetting how big it actually will be, the space available will be bigger than what's there when you walk through the streets of NYC

[@sohilronagh286]

@@hazel2546 agreed the external dimension of building is 500m x 200m. or 1640ft. high x 656 wide its wide but the height is also very high. I don't know if you know much about shadow calculation and when shadows are cast, it is always more than the general height of the building 9am and 5pm shadows cast are worst it is almost 1.5 times the height of the building depending where you are in the world and the season you are unning the calculations. I can guarantee you that the base of the "The Line" will hardly see any sunlight light may be for 1 hours (during noon when sun is directly above) if and only if there are no bridges, train tracks, trees and or other structures blocking natural light to get to the bottom. Possibly that is the idea and may welcome the constant shadow as the Saudi sun is extremely hot and dry. If you have noticed all the render images shown are at the penthouse level. right at the top. I would be interested to see the renders at the base Ha;f Kilometer High buildings cast extreme shadows.

[@jonchalk3855]

Point # 2 is a very good one. With such a height 500m and space in between, the sun, as it moves, will only shine a small portion of the day. The outer glass walls will probably be UV protected. Humans and animals need a certain amount of UV in order to produce vitamin D. So, will all 9 million people need to congregate in the center portion to get their daily few minutes of sunlight that is essential to our health? Lack of vitamin D also contribute to various mental illnesses. How are they going to deal with that? Point # 8 also brings a lot of questions. Once the structure has been built over the decades, the first several sections will have started to decay and require maintenance and upkeep. Where will the "workers" who build the sections live? Point # 9, yes, 9. Where will the dead be placed? Cremation is only accepted by a portion of the population. Some will want to continue their traditional practices that do not involve "compact" form of dealing with the dead.

[@Hello_there_obi]

Not to mention how it destroys ecological travel corridors for wildlife 💀

[@devenfornof8095]

​@@sohilronagh286 I don't know how they will do this, but their were some renderings at 39:08 , and 26:08 that show the ground floor, and their were massive 'windows' or openings on the bottom of the wall that were letting light pass. Structurally speaking it seems unlikely, but that would be a solution to your proposed problem #2 and one that they seem to be implementing into their design renderings. As for birds and other animals that might be affected by the austere shape and material of Neom, there are real-world examples of partial solutions, which I will provide links for in the bottom of my reply. They'd need to implement a plethora of unique solutions however so any example that can be found won't necessarily be relevant. The mirror-like exterior of the wall is so different from conventional design that I can't even begin to fathom all of the potential problems. Unfortunately I believe that the verticality of Neom practically and aesthetically implies hierarchy. It's symbolic, in a literal and obvious sense. The only novelty of this problem will be the sheer scale though, as big monolithic sky scrapers that can be found in any major city share the same personification of this socioeconomical issue. One serious question I have is: if this is truly just a pair of singular structured walls, how would it fair against an earthquake? What measures of earthquake protection are they planning to implement into the engineering of the structure? While they're not common in Saudi Arabia, it still poses a serious risk if not planned properly. My biggest question is this however: how will they sustainably desalinate water and use it efficiently? Historically, desalination is an incredibly inefficient and environmentally detrimental method. They only briefly mentioned solar desalination, which while promising, is not yet a viable process. This pioneering technology is hardly the end all be all solution, and it's incredibly irresponsible to suggest otherwise with such a vital resource for human life. It's crazy that they've begun building a city without a reliable source of water. It will very likely be the crux of Neom. www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/02/trains-japan-bark-snort-deer-off-tracks/ woods.stanford.edu/research/funding-opportunities/realizing-environmental-innovation-program/bird-safe-wind-turbines#:~:text=Vertical%20axis%20wind%20turbines%20(VAWT,the%20turbines%20on%20bird%20habitats.

[@X-SPONGED]

Huge props to Saudi Arabia for making this city of the future. Thanks to the Sheikh's wise townplanners, we can finally get another Spec Ops: The Line game featuring an actual line this time. Mravo Br. Miyamoto

[@blphnx]

It amazes me how for decades we've had plans for the most efficient future city ever conceived - Venus Project - the circular city, which puts all pertinent infrastructure, utilities, distribution centers, production, vertical farms, etc, in the middle, and shopping, amusements, etc. in the next ring, and all the residential living, open recreation, parks, etc., outside, and any part of the city can be easily accessed, focused on efficient public transport, pedestrian and biking, etc. Entirely self-sustaining. Includes 3D print technology to construct everything, robots to handle everything, eliminates the need for automobiles, eliminates the need to work to survive, people thrive no matter who they are and only do what is their passion. And the cities can be connected with hyperloops. The projections show that it would solve all poverty, pollution, energy, and population issues. But it all starts with the perfect 'circular/center-out' design (just like everything in nature.) Every model shows this would work. But NOBODY has bothered to finance this at a fraction of the cost as these profound Saudi projects, and now the complete opposite of a centric-designed city by creating a long straight 'line'. This is being approached as if they are building a city based on the world's longest immobile cruise line. But it also shares uncanny similarities to underground tunnel cities. Anyway, I really wish them luck, but I hope to see someday 1/100th of the cost of this to finally make the Venus Project a reality, so it can at the very least be used for comparison. But if this line project is possible, one would have to believe someone will finally consider other, even more efficient shapes.

[@ricardodelacrvz1400]

looks like a shopping center nah im good in rural france village

[@h.mjamil8384]

I actually read the whole comment.

[@Lukethesteelheadmaster]

What a evil idea. Whoever came up with that should read the Bible. That's just pure evil the world was created perfect you need nothing else

[@onthefly4142]

Read the whole comment

[@Anthony-ru7sk]

Like a pentagon?

[@uzairibnuri8017]

Having lived in Saudi for 8 years, I couldn't think of anything worse. Even if completed, the novelty would wear off in about an hour. No thank you.

[@Islam_is_the_truth.4]

Could you explain alittle bit why you think it would wear off brother I'm curious?

[@uzairibnuri8017]

​@@Islam_is_the_truth.4Im sure they will plan many green spaces inside. But it is not the same as being outside. Saudi Arabia has beautiful winters. The families love to have their picnics in the parks and on the side of the road when travelling. The shabab love to put up their tents and spend the weekends with their buddies. Many Saudis have deficiency in vitamin D because of staying out of the sunlight in summer. I dont know, its my opinion that after awhile people would not like to be inside this type of city. What is your opinion? Salaams

[@JelenaMarkovic-xt3kd]

@@Islam_is_the_truth.4Local culture and lets say learned behaviors of the natives.

[@wanrazul]

Yup. They should've invested in Jeddah instead. People and infrastructure are already there.

[@bonafidemonafide7810]

@@JelenaMarkovic-xt3kdwhat does “local culture” mean

[@inflingo]

I hope they will also heavily consider the regular cleaning maintenance required to keep all the buildings looking clean. In the desert especially, infrastructure gets dusty very quickly and when that happens it definitely doesn’t look visually appealing..

[@jeffs6090]

There's nobody outside the line, so it doesn't matter what the exterior looks like or how dusty it gets. No one will be looking at it. Seeing the interior design, it doesn't look like you'd be able to see out too much either, so you won't be looking out of dirty windows.

[@thepointsflyer]

robots?

[@Twiceonasunday]

Peter Cook wants to know whether the bean counters have priced this in and Thom Maybe is proclaiming “paper projects don’t get dusty…I’ve done thousands of ‘em!”

[@thepointsflyer]

@@Twiceonasunday yes of course mate

[@wamique]

They gotta turn the desert into jungle

[@user-tp4cg9ci6e]

Can't wait to see it!!!!!

[@technofaisal]

Glad to see that they interviewed dozens of saudis , who actually live in that country, about their thoughts on this new city being built for them….

[@sau1748]

There's plenty of other videos doing that. We're very happy with this project and hope it will be successful.

[@r0__.0]

Most Saudis love Prince Mohammed bin Salman, so we love everything he does😊

[@technofaisal]

Saudi citizens are the slaves of a maniac , sadly

[@user-ls8ks7kv8c]

@@sau1748 Bro your forefathers lived in freedom in the desert and you're happy to live in a prison city where the government can control you like an abed? Please have respect for your independence

[@Alderite]

​@@user-ls8ks7kv8cand do you think new generations will have the same mindset, this project is not for the present generation

[@cfluff6716]

I’m so bewildered at how many positive comments there are and how so many don’t see the soul sucking nature of this whole idea of a city 😵‍💫

[@Mohammed__Alshammari]

How the soul sucking nature of this whole idea of a city?

[@phoenix5054]

​@@Mohammed__AlshammariIt's a prison in the middle of the desert.

[@isaacgeorge7288]

@@phoenix5054 Well hopefully it's not a prison and is very nice

[@dr.abdullah9645]

@@phoenix5054it the way you see it 😂 Many see it innovative and great place to pay visit or mean residence

[@realteamme]

This video is a PR operation, right down to the comments praising the genius of the project and MBS. I thought Discovery used to make documentaries.

[@FABGallery]

I'm not a filmmaker, but someone should make a series or movie based on the evolutionary differences from one side of the wall to the other side. Maybe a horror based or fantasy 🤔🤷‍♂️

[@AgrinaldoDantas]

This project will be the biggest revolution that Saudi Arabia has ever built in the world, it will be the most advanced technology of the future.

[@kiwirufer1]

Exciting project. But never ever would I want to live in such a shiny shoe box. Getting claustrophobia just from thinking about it.

[@PaDSt3r]

Probably wise to make a game based on a module in the line and then see how AI react to the lifestyle. I find it hard to believe this can be built without major classism issues like Snowpiercer

[@Seeping.]

It has a chance of becoming a mini dystopian classist society-city-hotel and I’m all here for it 😅

[@jeffs6090]

Just like any movie that shows similar constructs, the elite live at the top where the poor, low wage workers live on the bottom. Star Wars Coruscant is like that. Elysium even went further leaving the poor on the planet and elite on a space station. That one, I can easily believe happening in our future. I'm sure The Line will be the test run of that.

[@willowthesily672]

this is a really good idea, AIs that act like humans are already a thing

[@MillywiggZ]

Or the film adaption of ‘High Rise’.

[@Sol-Cutta]

You think the rich want to live on top of the classes...it's like living in a great big prison.

[@Mr_Charos]

The what are u drinking totally got me LoL 🤣😅🤣

[@leonardell-bon7104]

Someone thought of building places like Venice, and the Great Wall of China, which was a gift to humanity. Hope The line will be the next gift.

[@DARKMATTERTIME]

So amazing, imagine the happiness of the prisoners living there ,some may never wanna leave.

[@Glorious_Kim_Jong_Un]

You mean the slaves that'll build it?

[@edwardderr6859]

... or be allowed to leave.

[@max00200]

an europeon saying this really paints the picture

[@philippesauvie639]

There needs to be a dialogue between those who find it life enriching to live in close proximity to others of like mind to stimulate growth and… Those who live in the suburbs and country. Scratch the suburbs… Those who live in the country. Living in a giant and I mean giant matrix like a futuristic upscale hotel lobby I don’t think will last. Wait until some criminal element decides to pull something with in it. Paradise lost.

[@whatever4929]

Well plenty of locals were thrown in prison for refusing to leave their homes to make way for the 'Land of Doers and Dreamers' ... Some have even been sentenced to death. Were everyday Saudis asked if they want the Line? Exactly what benefit are the hundreds of billions being squandered, yet again, by the kids of another Al Saud King, to the average Saudi? Why not increase people's salaries? Most Saudis are against it but dare not say anything. It's like North Korea but with money. What dear leader, M-BS wants, then the people will support him and dare not express an opinion otherwise. These low lives court the West, pretending to be so open and forward thinking, but are nothing more than thugs who get what they want.... And they will always have an army of ass-kissers, both Saudi and non-Saudi (like Antoni Vives, Peter Cook and the other pendejos) who will say, Yes Dear Leader!

[@davemo65]

As a building logistics professional, designing and solving for problems relating to materials management, solid waste and recycling, etc. my mind goes towards how do you deal with planning for daily nuts and bolts issues in a new way? The population in the LINE will still produce some level of trash and items to be recycled. Where does it go? Carting it all out into the desert for burial seems antithetical to the aims of this exercise. All towers in cities around the world rely on trucks loading and unloading at service bays. How do you avoid replicating that existing infrastructure model?

[@cookiewithsunglasses6786]

very cool. i hope they succeed

[@jeremyflowers8908]

You know how a Rubiks cube works.. Moving things around axes.. That would be a way to make communities have access to each other more quickly if the whole structure moved.

[@buname2437]

all these people in the comments hating on this project but when its done their dream is only to visit.

[@TheShortPositive]

The new way of control ❤️

[@KrewBeton]

NEOM is nothing less than the biggest and probably cheapest (!) PR machine in the history of country promotion. The second thing is that the architects involved in this project must be really well fed in order to swallow an active assault on logic and intellect every time they say such nonsense... I envy them, because I would like to be one of them!

[@notsure1277]

Speaking of PR machines, what about the Space Race of the 1960s and 1970s? Not only were the US and Soviet governments all in, most of their respective populaces were also extremely supportive. It is the Saudis' turn. Let them have it.

[@Alderite]

I dont think this is a PR machine since this is a desperate attempt of saving their country of running out of oil a few decades later, transitioning itself into an innovative, technological and tourist attraction. If you see the foundations are being built right now if you watch it on Google Earth

[@Countfoscolikesmice]

@@notsure1277 let them have it. ok. and all the murder, displacement and corruption that goes along. wish I slept like you.

[@talllala]

It would become a dystopian hell hole. I grew up in the 70s in an area with two of the largest Estates in the Europe. Each one had green areas, shops, doctors surgeries, small businesses, creches, laundries, youth clubs all built in and around the structure, with bridges and walkways suspended in the air betweem buildings. Great concept, but in reality they were ugly and became crime havens and poor people lived ontop each other while middle classes lived in the green leafy suburbs miles away. It never works.

[@drrockkso8882]

Yeah I was gonna say the same thing. If people want to live in a long, dense, planned multi-story apartment block mini-city with a central open space, they can. There's already thousands of housing projects like that exist in cities all over the world. And most of the people living in them would much rather be someplace else.

[@gamerhouse7790]

I work at VAG, a German fittings manufacturer. We produce fittings for NEOM. Ring piston valves, EKN and SKR, for example.

[@rickysrmartinezmartinez3216]

lol nobody cares where you work n nobody asked either lolol

[@gamerhouse7790]

@@rickysrmartinezmartinez3216 Thanks, greetings back. The work is really exciting and diverse. It is also a joy for me to see NEOM grow. My reward will be great.

[@gamerhouse7790]

@@rickysrmartinezmartinez3216 I am also pleased about the project. The big city should look very futuristic and modern. I would be happy about projects like this in other countries too. Greetings return.

[@rjknupp]

Ahhhhh ZEE GERMANS!!!

[@BogushCh]

Herr Gamerhouse7790 is so involved at VAG etc, he cannot understand these absurd projects only arouse indifference in others who see through the hopelessly idiotic, hi-tech bling.

[@rainsunday7269]

WHAT A WONDERFULL DOCUMENTARY!!! KEEP IT UP. "IF YOU CAN"T TAKE RISKS, YOU CAN'T CREATE A FUTURE - Monkey D. Luffy"

[@humbertogarciavasquez1076]

My understanding of a city, as an architect, is to provide people with the bare necesities that life has to offer. Parks and recreation areas for the young are some of the problematic solutions for our race, as humans , we do not like to be enclosed in an inmaculate space that is driven by technological advance, if habitants of these proyects are aloud to travel outside the walls of this LINE project, how would they get back and most importantly how would they keep their existence inside this LINE , in the long run, a project like this could end up costing way too much to even consider living in it. The irony is that as humans we are against the idea of living in a cloisered empty spaces, nevertheless living between specific parameters given by the walls of this LINE could create health and mental problems beyond our reasoning. I hope that ambition do not blind all architectural colaborators on this mega building city project and have the vision of thinking more humanistic than technological driven.

[@user-ls8ks7kv8c]

Your points are valid but unfortunately engineers don't always take the considerations of a real human in mind, particularly when there is $1 trillion being offered

[@lwdewhirst6643]

Less NEOM, more Comm Ave, Boston

[@s1dew1nd3r4]

have a look at the Southgate Estate from Runcorn that James Stirling designed - that place ended up being torn down after about 20 years.

[@scottxtapes9743]

Yeah did it ever occur to you that the people that mastermind these projects do not care about humanity at all.

[@inamullahshinwari3504]

Absolutely perfectly said. This is not enlarging the human capacities but limiting them by captivating the ambition to be near the nature, soil and the blood of it. It will take all the beauty away from the minds of humans living in it. Sadly, it is going to happen and it must not happen ... !!!

[@vtbuadromo7653]

So, an impressive vision from a purely human - anthropogenic - perspective... At 36 min 35 sec run time, we hear one of the proponents say, "To make the desert human, you're gonna need some top-down hardcore engineering...". Keywords here are "top-down" and "hardcore", and what I understand from that is that very little - if any - thought has been given to the existential wellbeing of all the other desert dwellers who are not at the so-called 'top' level of evolutionary development. 👀 This project is going to drive many more species of wildlife - both fauna and flora - into extinction. Humans have an (un?)impressive historical record for doing just that... Probably started during the last ice-age with the great woolly mammoths.

[@sopad4629]

We have cities because we have to work. We have to eat, be with family, entertain ourselves.

[@angiedillman7963]

Fascinating, wonder how it'll work, hats off to them for conserving nature..

[@rioluna6058]

conservatin nature ?hahhhahah my country protects nature what the saudies are doing is just wasting their money

[@user-ze8zo5uv2s]

No, hats off to you for buying this BS. 🤣🤣🤣

[@ASHISHGUPTA94]

I love the dystopian future, i think NEOM is going to bring it to reality. Good luck!!!

[@hanskleinjan]

Please think again

[@spacexreview]

They need to hire me I know what there missing to make this work.

[@maxyogi]

Britain is making ALOT of Money from Saudi Arabia from it's helping in the building of these futuristic places in Saudi Arabia. Out of the total $US1Trn to cost in building this atleast $US400Bn will go to Britain. Not too shabby for Britain.

[@reapsgrimley]

we need to pinch ourselves, wake up and realize that Bladerunner was just a movie...

[@Midas234]

In the event of a military conflict, Neom will make the perfect target to practice

[@guntherjeitler5258]

People want the open sky above their heads, not 50 levels of concrete. Just because it can be drawn on paper, doesn't mean that it could be or should be build in reality. Think about Le Corbusier wanting to destroy the Paris in the 1920s to replace beautiful old buildings with boring, concrete, grey skyscrapers.

[@Deutschtown]

I live in an off grid earthship. It works and is sustainable. I do not know why there are not more of us.

[@mikey5396]

Because that kind of living, while arguably better for you and the environment, is not sustainable for a planet with 8 billion people. Sure you could spread everyone out evenly, but then vast swaths of natural habitat will be lost. It's just not feasible.

[@ThomHiatt]

If you are off grid, how did you watch this video, and reply?

[@LokiDWolf]

​@@ThomHiattLOL I get what you mean. But being off grid doesn't mean one is Amish or something. 😄

[@frankcompston5065]

they should cut the length in half and do two lines parallel creating room to incorporate actual outside area. I feel like I would be claustrophobic living there otherwise.

[@MammaLlama313]

To me it feels like if i was going on a cruise, but for the rest of my life.

[@HueyMaxSucks]

This will be the nicest looking prison ever built. Well done to the designers for scrapping the 15min cities. 5min is enough for any inmate.

[@marloncristian]

I'm still curious about what would happen if someone wanted to take a walk in the desert, even though it appears there are no external doors.

[@passby8070]

I wonder if anyone have done any serious wind and weather modeling on a 500m wall stretching 100s of km.

[@patrickn8355]

That’s the scariest part. You’re just stuck there. It’s like a prison

[@Alderite]

@@patrickn8355 like being stuck on the same Computer in your lonely room, alone work from home

[@sokainael6895]

That’s a city, so I think you can still travel to other cities or countries

[@thiagodinizcoelho]

I have a question: although it seems definitely a city within the nature, I believe that the mirrored outer surface seems dangerous for birds. I mean, how will they differentiate it from a wide open space when flying over?! A second question: how do the lower spaces will receive daylight, knowing that there are upper structures that create a continuous shadow in the structures downward? Third: how is it gonna deal with wind, since it seems to me it will create a wind tunnel inside...? Finally: how is it gonna deal with temperature control?

[@Rampuniernix]

... using Birdstickers... o_O

[@barkingcatswow]

I assume bird meat delicacies would be a staple.

[@francelaruiz5261]

Good question!!

[@Make_Boxing_Great_Again]

I think those are the least of their worries. Just search on KZbin for why the line is a stupid idea.

[@ortem000]

This has been brought up several times by experts. The people building this thing do not care.

[@sportsonwheelss]

unless you can teleport, the line is a major commuting nightmare if they plan to put that many people in it.

[@skaughtsman]

What if they all want to visit the coast or beach? A major problem!

[@StaindByJuice]

I'm a 38yo high school dropout with no family. I wish I could help build and live in The Line.

[@drrockkso8882]

I don't understand why a linear city layout is superior to a square one. Wouldn't it be more efficient to use a square footprint and have everything closer together? You could still have the same overall density per square foot, just in a more compact footprint. That way people on one side of the city are only like 10 miles from the other side instead of 100 miles.

[@codynix8213]

Exactly. But doing it this way makes people go "wooaah" and support it without any actual logic.

[@MeNanWazaHowitzer]

We gona need 50 year supply of pop corn to watch this slowly come to fruition and then see the disappointment on those that live there

[@ILoveManCity.]

Exactly but the Arabic countries want to be flashy which I don't think is a bad thing but, and what you are describing is the way Dubai was designed. The issue is that those countries and their cities are in constant competition like cousins arguing about which had the best toys, now they want something unique and for it to remain like that for many decades.

[@Alderite]

Something to do with Saudi living in an arid environment and constant desertification of the cities.

[@Alderite]

@@codynix8213 Innovation isn't suppose to be logical. Its about to get past unconventional to create new technologies. That's how we advanced through this century

[@helenavanderwalarnemann7382]

I think a line for a shorter distance may be better, for example, a distance of one or two miles followed by a similar distance in a perpendicular angle to the already situated line city followed by a gap for the migrating animals and people followed by a vertical line city and a perpendicular distance of the line city followed by another gap and so on repeating this module making more like a zig zag. The train can still transgress the entire zigzag especially underground for the commuters. This shape allows for more shade from the hot sun because of the shape. Why mirrors that will confuse the birds? Better to research the migration routes of the birds and put no mirrors in these areas. Instead make an oasis and resting place for the migrating birds. Also important to study where the migrating animals and people are so as to focus/concentrate the gaps in these areas. Additionally, the gaps can have bridges that will connect the two sides of the city on both sides of the gap. This idea is even more environmentally friendly and adds more variety to the humdrum of a straight line city.

[@communismwillbeeradicated.6128]

But they want us all to live in one big line unable to leave our 15 minute zones. They don’t care how it’s done as long as it is done.

[@DavidByrden1]

You're funny. They've already murdered people who protested this, they've already forced the local inhabitants off their land, and you think they will worry about birds.

[@crisg.5766]

This city will also supply a fresh batch of bird meat. They should have nets at the bottom so when the birds smack into the glass they can just automatically bring them in. Window cleaning will be non-stop.

[@austinwu8451]

You also have to build several airports, and railways to transport supplies, build several new water supply systems, telecommunications systems, air purification systems, etc.....XD　ｇｏ　ａｈｅａｄ

[@RigSMP100]

I strongly suggest you make a computerized multiplayer game of this thing to find out all the failure modes before you start building the super structure, which will be so big it’ll find new harmonic modes of plate tectonics causing absolute catastrophe in the future

[@johnnylego807]

Right? Building this historically massive structure and yet they don’t know the massive potential problems with this!

[@johnnylego807]

This will also destroy the desert ecosystem

[@WenCrash]

The architects seem to be chuckling inside while using all these trendy words and collecting huge checks.

[@ri-goblazt5894]

Imagine up to nine million people living inside a Mall-City! I can’t imagine the Prince living there.

[@ronc166]

A future I don’t want to live in. I’m sure it’s beautiful. ❤I’m sure it’s sustainable, yet no freedom to be a person.

[@sorin_ion8151]

A golden cage.

[@onepercentrepublic]

What a video, What a idea, What a vision and What a PLAN.

[@alking_am842]

zero-gravity urbanism is such a new concept that it confuses anyone who hear the term

[@PiggyFuktoy]

You KNOW that people “stuck” in a contrived situation as well as entrepreneurs ready to service these people, are going to view that proximity to the ocean, to a beach, and demand access through that wall, from that enclosure to that exposure…

[@gobro9483]

Engineers involved in this project are gonna hate these people

[@sadsana]

This will be amazing 🙏🏽😇

[@jucutan]

Almost all cities in the world are slowly developed. You won't know what's good for people right away. It has to be slowly planned and meet the needs of others. If you build something ahead of time, how will you know it will benefit in the future. Again, cities are slowly developed as people live. They will find the need for something and from there on you start planning as the culture grows. Anything already developed will go through changes due to populations.

[@getnoob3945]

I believe that, assuming the same energy behind the team keeps up, most likely the project will go through many improvisations and changes, perhaps multiple changes in the Staff Board and maybe be taken over by a new Executive-Whoever-Controls-Things. And in the end after facing remodels due to sheer architectural optimization if not anything else, likely not looking anything like a line, will end up as some smaller city-like project that looks kinda cool, but probably quite inefficient, best case scenario

[@lesigh1749]

@@getnoob3945 And whatever they will make will rapidly be abandoned and fall to decay, like all the wonder architecture of the 60s and 70s when other boffins decided that they could reinvent the city. Human towns as a concept arent broken, any attempt to fix them will end in failure.

[@communismwillbeeradicated.6128]

I find it funny how people talk about the line like this is a benefit to mankind or how it’s supposed to be some sort of progress but what you fail to see is the beginning of a feudal style lined city where the public will live in squalor whilst the rich will live in the clouds, 15 minute city neighbourhoods are planned where everything we apparently need will be within a 15 minute walking distance and we will not be able to leave designated areas. The line is the beginning of a dystopian nightmare in which we will never be able to escape from.

[@catsnorkel]

They aren't designing this for people

[@thaibreuer3533]

@@lesigh1749 that's what I thought as an outcome when they were showing the Futurama fair and were "praising" the monorail..

[@XTSu-sl1bb]

As an Architect these guys just make me laugh. Talking all the wow presentation words they know but making zero sense. MBS was the most convincing designer 🤣

[@helenjavellanadiazsuan5153]

humans are creative what a remarkable endeavor ❤ if u have been places n several cities around the globe u can imagine really creating a Future world something like the LINE to curb traffic,reduce pollution, an ecosystem so unique for life activities to be accessible & comfortable to future generations...

[@kalaskrille]

The longest advert in history.

[@herb2078]

What a interesting project! One question though, it’s built for 9 million people, what happens when those inhabitants start having children? Do they start adding more modules or will people have to leave and live else where

[@user-oo1lf6li8p]

It's a stupid question tbh like first of all do u realize how much is 9 million people? Second of all this project is still new we can never knew what its gonna be in the future like would it actually be successful? Would people want to live in a city in the desert lets be fr it'll be decades till having 9 million people living there is a problem

[@herb2078]

@@user-oo1lf6li8p it’s a really logical question haha all other traditional city’s have unlimited space and free flow for expansion, this clearly does not therefore a structured approach will have to be taken as to how that’s done. They will look to fill this pretty quick, but regardless of how long it takes the problem will rear it’s head at some point.

[@user-oo1lf6li8p]

@@herb2078 i think if the project work successfully it'll become bigger and having more than 9 million people living in it wouldn't be a problem

[@Alderite]

@@herb2078 The project is designed to expand by modules, per Module will be able to house 80,000-100,000 people. I think this will take a few decades and maybe we'll see how they will handle the population problem. The city is most likely going to be run by AI to resolve the increasing population.

[@herb2078]

@@Alderite amazing concept, that’s what I thought would be the most logical option adding modules on as it increases. Will be a modern wonder of the world if it works

[@Hvacian]

Cities are something which are organically developed.

[@teddymoon3744]

the westerners will never buy a 2nd home here. the religion and freedom does not exist in saudi. without freedom u have nothing.

[@WindTurbineSyndrome]

A totalitarian dictatorship with single point decisionmaking and unlimited funds wants a city full of citizens that need to be under constant surveillance and control. Women will be cloistered as they are in this society.

[@Ethereal184]

In engineering, you have to deal with the challenge of managing costs, environmental impacts and engineering challenges. Another aspect that is often not as considered is the social aspect. Current infrastructure is mostly open ended leaving lots of room for travel and spacing of different types of areas. The real challenge is determining quite literally how someone should live their life on a daily basis

[@ivanos_95]

Constructing a solid railway-system along the coast, with strategic infrastructure, and stations that are connected to public places along the road, would be a solid foundation for a city, or even a whole agglomeration of cities, which could be united into a mega-city, if the project works out, but there have to be solid roads between the pieces of real estate, which people supposed to buy and use accordingly to their own needs, so limiting such a city to four walls, without providing any alternatives for the city to expend sideways, is nothing except a recipe for failure.

[@eddyr1041]

Isnt this will be the same as a good subway system? I think what we need is a subway consteuction system that do not interfere with curruent traffic when constructing... So no additìbal traffic jam when constructing and hopefully fast construction.😊

[@Mounties87]

Interesting that the architects are running the show. Project looks more like an engineering problem than anything.

[@jakepancake7446]

because infrastructure perspectives are created from an idea or vision of an architect...engineers will then later complement that perspective into realization

[@miralabualjadail4206]

Bingo your the only one that has a hint, of what is happening. Congrats. It is engineering, but its not a problem, its very good engineering.

[@maepogz]

Hey dude, it's always the architect who is the first to solve this problem. Engineers are always in the second position. I don't understand the process behind why engineers have to solve these issues first and be shown. It's about the people who will live in it, their comfort, needs, and other stuff. The architect is the one who can see these things and solve them. Engineers always, and I mean always, follow what the architect designs. If the engineers cannot do what the architect says, they should get other engineers who are intelligent enough to collaborate with the architects.

[@stopato5772]

The role of the architect is to seduce you with grand visions, and get you to pay for the un-necessary - so their portfolios look fab.

[@daryldraws8083]

It is primarily an architectural challenge, because it concerns human habitation, especially on a large scale, a city. Architects are the conductors making sure the orchestra of infrastructures perfectly harmonize together. The engineers then are the ensemble, executors of the architects' composition and directions. The engineering challenge here depends on the architectural vision, they will build where the architects draw the lines.

[@megaminerdl]

When I'm in a "how many futuristic uplifting key words can I cram into one video" competition and my opponent is this video Ah yes, some new reference for my Minecraft Line

[@andresmandujano5800]

broooo imagine having any of these people’s jobs, like they’re working on complete hypotheticals and getting payed enough to not worry if it’s gonna all fail in the end

[@TheZeyyyyy]

Will they have openings (for transport etc) along the wall or will you have to go to the end in order to exit?

[@HueyMaxSucks]

Exit? That's the last thing you'll be allowed to do!

[@user-ze8zo5uv2s]

They didn't think about it yet. Stop asking difficult questions.

[@christopherwillson]

I only now realize that the idea of the mirror is to make it look like you're just looking at the natural environment when you're looking at the building

[@WindTurbineSyndrome]

Will bake the surrounding area with heat and harm migrating species.

[@christopherwillson]

@@WindTurbineSyndrome I'm not so sure if you're right about that.

[@johnnylego807]

@@christopherwillsonit’s not freaking rocket science…… mirror+ sun = death ray. There will be no escaping this city.

[@johnnylego807]

@@christopherwillsonit’s in a freakin desert?! The thing has Two GIANT mirror walls on each sun, which will reflect sunlight and vaporize anything around it.

[@christopherwillson]

@@johnnylego807 Mirrors don't work like magnifying glasses.

[@legendarypips2831]

Imagine something goes wrong and 9 million people get killed all at once

[@blueplanet1048]

Should be amazing however I feel like it should definitely wider than 200m it just looks to cramped. I think it should have been at least 500 meters wide

[@sparksmacoy]

Yes, this is the fatal flaw. You got it exactly.

[@Tagoreapoet]

I,don’t have a problem with the construction of this amazing City; but with the location of this building and the people who are paying for it...

[@TimGaleaGClan]

The flipside is that only a country flush with money and a monarchy would take this risk.... who else would actually give this a go?

[@Alderite]

@@TimGaleaGClan The country is running out of Oil a couple years from now. So transitioning the country into a more diverse and sustainable economy other than oil but with Tourism and Technology. I say its a valid response

[@MaGiC4Reals]

They can lock it down whenever they want then basically, scary thought.

[@CosmicStarDust23]

Saudi Arabia great presentation and I wish you well.

[@gottem5143]

Seems like these guys in charge are forgetting the most important thing that will run this project to the ground. Human nature.

[@AA-zo5kp]

My immediate reaction as an Architect was why would anyone want to live in a glass prison.

[@Twiceonasunday]

25.09….this is an improvement on London, Paris, Berlin, Stockholm, Singapore…really?

[@PyongYangproject-bd4kx]

I only heard ambitious plans not one problem in building such city and how to solve it

[@Smoke-Plays]

Possibly the longest advert I have ever watched.