THE (OTHER) LINE: an AI counterpart to NEOM's mirrored city

Ai-da’s the (other) line is abound with pollution

THE (OTHER) LINE is the counterpart, the reversed image of NEOM’s THE LINE: a congested and busy infrastructural line, punctuated by elements of concentration and representation of the administrative authority, which acts as the only glue and connection to an infinite city spread without interruption across the territory. While Saudi Arabia envisions an urban landscape that is mimetic, sophisticated and aims to hide its true nature behind the technological precision of a mirrored facade, AI-DA’s AI-generated cityscapes are brazen and cannot help but show their true nature by replacing the natural landscape. As much as the former celebrates 100% renewable energy, the absence of machines, and polluting emissions, the latter will not be able to give up fossil fuels, traffic, and pollution in order to support its development and survive.

all images by AI-DA

an antithesis to the utopian futuristic urban landscape

AI-DA presents an antithesis to the eagerly anticipated THE LINE, which has been presented by Saudi Arabia’s NEOM like a mirrored cognitive city stretching across 170 kilometers. It towers 500 meters above sea level but spans a land-saving 200 meters wide that redefines the concept of urban development and what cities of the future will look like. No roads, cars, or emissions, it will run on 100% renewable energy and will eventually accommodate 9 million people. Within its footprint of just 34 square kilometers, residents can access all daily essentials within a five-minute walk, in addition to high-speed rail – with an end-to-end transit of 20 minutes.

Focusing on the data, we discover that the approximately 300,000 people expected in the 2.4 km to be built by 2023 would be sufficient to entirely accommodate the so-called ultra-high-net worth individuals (UHNWI), i.e., the 243,060 individuals (2022 data) with higher investable assets to 10 million dollars or that 0.005% that controls 5.5% of the world’s wealth. Referring overall to the overall population envisaged by the initial project (9 million), the construction of THE LINE could entirely accommodate the 59.4 million people (1.1% of the world population who control 45% of global wealth (for a total of approximately 208 trillion dollars).

AI-DA presents THE (OTHER) LINE

Securing citizenship in this city of the future designed by the most exclusive names in international architecture will be a privilege reserved for a few, but even more interesting are the indications that come from observing its design. All the elements underlying the experiments of the early 20th century to respond to the housing needs of the working class and the efficient and democratic development of the city are overturned in this ideal city of luxury. The intensive use of land which was supposed to guarantee the maximization of collective and recreational space instead becomes extreme privatization and control of the same, transported within the line, delimited by the 2 skyscraper walls and removed from public function and ownership. Outside, only the desert remains to guarantee the inaccessibility of this oasis of modernity and happiness to the many who will remain excluded from it. But then where will those 2.8 billion people (53%) live who have only 1.2% of the world’s wealth?

generated using AI

the counterpart, the reversed image of NEOM’s THE LINE

brazen cityscapes that have removed all traces of the natural landscape

the city has not been able to give up fossil fuels, traffic, and pollution

an antithesis to the utopian futuristic urban landscape envisioned by NEOM

project info:

name: THE (OTHER) LINE
designer: AI-DA

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edited by: ravail khan | designboom