August 5, 2022
Let's talk about the Line in Saudi Arabia.
This jaw-dropping project proposes a structure as tall as the Empire State Building and more than 100 miles long, meant to house 9 million people.
The video fly-through is eerie. While it highlights equitable access to views and nature, we can easily imagine an immediate hierarchy that would form. Who lives at the top with access to light and air, and who lives at the bottom of the stack? Who has to take the public transit system and who has a personal plane to fly from one end to the other?
While it claims zero carbon emissions due to a no-car policy, what tremendous environmental impact would ensue from the electrical, plumbing, and digital infrastructure needed to run this behemoth in the middle of the desert?
On the other hand, fitting 9 million people on only 13 square miles might make some housing advocates excited. By conservative estimates, we need 4.3 million new apartments in the U.S. alone by 2035 to address demand, deficit and affordability. Do we need an incredibly dramatic intervention to change our fate?
Very hot topic (both in and out of deserts). Feel free to hit reply, would love to hear what you think!
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MUST-READS
MAD Architects Creates a Volcano-Inspired Stadium in China // Architectural Record
Designs for Two Libraries Reimagine the Familiar Typology as a Community Hub // Metropolis
When Tech Companies Buy Apartment Portfolios // NAA
The Coming Tsunami of PropTech M&A // Propmodo
How Life House is Building a 'New-Age' Hotel Management Company // CoStar
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IDEA SPOTLIGHT
WRLDCITY_Global Forum for Urban Innovation
After two successful editions online, bringing together more than 10,000 leading urban leaders, developers and placemakers, WRLDCTY brings its conference in-person for the first time at the Times Center in New York City. Speakers include Andrew Kimball, President & CEO of NYCEDC, Claire Johnston from Google, and Thomas Heatherwick among many others.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Director of Operations // Spoak // New York, NY or Remote
Visualizer // Adjaye Associates // Hybrid, New York, NY
Sales Director // Sugarlift // New York, NY
Vice President, Design & Construction // Beam Living // New York, NY
Marketing Director // Boston Properties // New York, NY
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