NEOM is one of the largest single concentrations of architectural and design work undertaken in the 21st century. The region has engaged a roster of international architecture studios, with each destination given its own design language. This article surveys the studios behind the region and the design philosophy shaping NEOM.
The studios involved
NEOM Company has worked with an unusually wide roster of international architecture and design studios, including:
- Morphosis Architects, principal-led by Thom Mayne.
- The Helmut Jahn studio.
- Foster + Partners.
- Olson Kundig.
- Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG).
- Zaha Hadid Architects.
- Heatherwick Studio.
- Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA).
- HKS.
- HOK.
- Atkins Realis.
Each studio contributes to specific destinations or districts. The collective effect is a region with significant architectural diversity within an integrated master plan.
Design philosophy
Across NEOM, several design themes recur.
- Integration with landscape. Destinations are conceived to integrate with their natural settings, whether mountain (Trojena), desert canyon (Leyja), coastal cove (Siranna), or hollowed mountain (Aquellum).
- Architectural distinctiveness. Each destination has its own signature: the mirrored skyscrapers of The Line, the iconic twin towers of Epicon, the subterranean rooms of Utamo, the terraced cove of Siranna, the canyon hotels of Leyja.
- Sustainability. Every destination targets operations powered by renewable energy, with sustainability certifications and embedded conservation practices.
- Hospitality at scale. The hospitality programmes engage international hotel operators and signature chefs, integrating service design with architectural design.
The result is a portfolio that reads as deliberately heterogeneous, with each destination meant to feel distinct rather than part of a single visual signature.
The Line
The Line’s design is led by Morphosis Architects, with Thom Mayne as principal-in-charge. The 170-kilometre linear city concept, with its 500-metre mirrored exterior, two parallel skyscrapers, and continuous interior, is the most prominent piece of architecture in the NEOM region.
The design philosophy of The Line is to rethink the city as a single integrated structure rather than a collection of buildings. Daylight, transit, services, and residential density are arranged vertically rather than horizontally.
Trojena
Trojena’s six districts each draw on a different design approach. The mountain landscape is the dominant factor. The artificial lake at the centre of the resort, the cable cars between districts, and the configuration of the slopes are integrated into the architectural plan.
Sindalah
Sindalah’s three opening hotels are designed by different international studios and operators, each with its own architectural identity within the wider island plan. The marina, beach club, and retail promenade are designed to integrate the hotels into a coherent guest experience.
Oxagon
Oxagon’s octagonal city plan is the principal design statement. Within the octagon, the floating modules of mixed-use districts are designed for industrial, residential, and retail purposes. The port, the green hydrogen plant, and the modular construction factories are each substantial architectural and engineering projects in their own right.
Magna
Magna brings the widest variety of architectural identities of any NEOM cluster. Each destination has been designed to feel different from the next.
- Epicon by Studio HBA.
- Siranna by Atkins Realis.
- Utamo as a subterranean experience by an international studio team.
- Leyja by Foster + Partners.
- Aquellum by a studio team specialising in immersive experience design.
- Norlana by HKS.
- Xaynor by HBA.
The cluster as a whole demonstrates that ultra-luxury hospitality can be expressed in very different architectural languages within a coherent region.
Materials and construction
NEOM’s construction programme combines conventional methods with significant innovation. Modular construction factories at Oxagon produce building components for on-site assembly. 3D-printed concrete is used for some foundation and architectural elements. Glass, steel, stone, and timber are all sourced according to the design intent of each destination.
The mirror cladding of The Line, the rock-carved interiors of Utamo and Aquellum, the terraced concrete of Siranna, and the timber and stone of Leyja each represent significant construction challenges that NEOM and its partners have engaged.
Why this matters
The breadth of architectural engagement at NEOM matters for three reasons. It produces a region with significant variation rather than visual monotony, which helps the tourism programme. It connects the region to a global architectural conversation. And it gives NEOM a credibility within the design community that supports the wider hospitality, residential, and commercial offer.
Related reading
For The Line specifically, see The Line at NEOM explained. For the Magna destinations, see Magna: NEOM’s Gulf of Aqaba tourism cluster and the individual destination pages for Epicon, Siranna, Utamo, Leyja, Aquellum, Norlana, and Xaynor. For the wider region, see the main NEOM overview.
Sources
This article draws on NEOM Company announcements, the websites of the studios mentioned, architecture trade press, and reporting from Bloomberg, the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, Reuters, and trade press in architecture and hospitality. Corrections welcome.