Understanding the Linear City. (Mis)interpretation, Categorization, and Realization

The Linear City topic is one that periodically appears in the world of architecture and urban planning through a variety of visionary plans, yet rarely comes to successful fruition in the built reality. Most recently the discourse on linear cities has been stirred up again relating to the controversial Neom project in Saudi Arabia. While abundant concepts and models of linear cities exist in literature, seemingly unrelated to one another, no real consensus has been established on a normative definition and the term is ambiguously used. Furthermore, some urban forms evolve naturally in a linear fashion without significant planning strategy raising the question of the concept’s validity. With previous notions in mind the crucial enigma resolved with this paper is what defines the concept, design and success of a Linear City? And why do linear city ideas reappear if they rarely get realized? This research elucidates the reasons behind the concept’s misinterpretation and provides a much-needed categorization of the general models, bringing to focus whether Neom is actually a liner city. Subsequently, it is explained how the planned concepts relate to organically evolved linear urban forms or current trends in sustainable urban development. The paper draws on desk-based research, and a comprehensive discourse analysis within the theoretical frameworks of urban morphology and critical theory. It builds upon the author’s prior research groundwork, provides theoretical review of existing primary sources and available body of knowledge encompassing a wide range of linear city models, ideas, concepts, and existing linear urban environments. The paper contributes to theory building by providing reasonable inferences and clarification on a contested topic.