NEOM, the sustainable region taking shape in northwest Saudi Arabia, has recently announced the appointment of world-leading partners to deliver the core city planning, design, and engineering for the first phase of The Line.
The company said that Delugan Meissl Associate Architects (DMAA), Gensler and Mott MacDonald are collaborating with The Line’s design, development, and project delivery teams to provide urban design, planning consultancy, and infrastructure design for the first phase of the city.
With the support of those developers, NEOM has established a sophisticated design ecosystem with advanced and rigorous methodologies to deliver on The Line’s urban objectives. Starting in early 2025, several architects will undertake the planning and design of the neighborhoods within phase one.
“As the development and construction of The Line progresses, we have established a unique partnership that brings world-leading city design and engineering expertise to deliver Phase One,” stated Denis Hickey, chief development officer, The Line.
Driving The Line’s progress
NEOM appointed DMAA as the urban designer, leading the concept and master plan of The Line’s phase one. The Line’s urban design will challenge traditional planning conventions that leverage a vertical design to the city. DMAA will then support NEOM in maintaining the design vision of phase one as neighborhood architects join the development. DMAA is working with a team of experts across a range of topics such as microclimate and ecology, mobility and logistics, and sustainability.
Meanwhile, global design firm Gensler will be the city planning consultant for phase one of The Line, an essential role given the unprecedented size, scale, and complexity of the project. Gensler will lead city design coordination and city planning, providing leadership and governance across the project on crucial areas, including planning policies and frameworks, land use, and design compliance. Gensler will also be the city’s asset design architect for critical city infrastructure, including transport hubs and the public realm.
NEOM also appointed Mott MacDonald as city infrastructure engineer. The company will drive the management and control of vertical and horizontal structures in addition to the city’s utility systems for phase one. This role will focus on the efficiency and sustainability of the design for a functional, constructible, and operable city.
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Tackling global urban challenges
With The Line, NEOM seeks to find sustainable solutions for global urban challenges, establishing a transformative and sustainable urban environment that co-exists in harmony with nature. The company also aims to build the city without roads and cars, combining the vibrancy of city living with the peace and tranquility of green spaces and access to nature.
In addition to building the necessary regional capital projects surrounding The Line, NEOM is currently focusing on the initial phases of infrastructure and enabling works for the new city. With more than 120 foundation piles being cast into the ground each week at the phase one site, The Line is on track to be the world’s largest piling operation.
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