Recent pix of Saudi Arabia’s ‘The Line’ project, spanning 105 miles long

[rcjordan]

https://old.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/1jyc17f/recently_taken_image_of_saudi_arabias_the_line/

[ergophobe]

Current plans have scaled back the 2030 goals, but are barreling ahead for 2045

"[according to reports of the scale back] The Line was expected to complete an initial section of 2.4 km (1.5 mi) long by 2030, with a population of 300,000 rather than the intended 1.5 million. The Saudi minister of economy and planning rejected the claims of scaling back. He said in an interview during World Economic Forum special meeting in Riyadh that "For NEOM, the projects, the intended scale is continuing as planned. There is no change in scale". As of October 2024, Saudi Arabia intends to complete a 5 km (3.1 mi) central segment of The Line by 2030, while completion of the full 170 km (110 mi) project has been pushed to 2045."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Line,_Saudi_Arabia

The main word that comes to mind is "hubris," but I think it would be pretty cool if even half of the original project got built.

My mind is always boggled by the intentional inefficiency of it. Why would you create a city designed so that two given points can be as far apart as possible? Why not a circle so the max distance would be 33 miles instead of 105? I have a feeling that anyone asking that question doesn't "get it"

[rcjordan]

> Why not a circle

My best guess is that it is aligned so that the walls get the least direct sunlight.

Also a guess - straight/rectangular construction is the cheapest.

[ergophobe]

That makes sense

[littleman]

>hubris

When I first learned about this project a few years ago one of my first thoughts is this is the type project that happens when one person has too much control and not enough reality check.  This is a denial of the laws of nature and conservation of resources.  If it ever actually gets completed it will be swallowed by the desert within two generations.

[Brad]

>circle

The grid, like most American cities is very efficient city layout.  It can move a lot off people and if an obstruction occurs bypassing it is easy.    This is true so long as you don't cut through the city grid with massive interstate highways which destroy the efficiencies of the grid.

[grnidone]

But if you really want it to be efficient, you'll have a slime mold design it:

https://youtu.be/HBi8ah1ku_s?si=_nyMlbpHZ2Wyk5ow