Skyline: uniqueness vs number of buildings?
Which is more important to you when it comes to a skyline: unique architecture or number of towers? I promise, this is my last thread for today, lol!
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a combination of both.
size, big enough for it to feel mighty but with unique and layered architecture from different periods. SF is a good example i think. |
both.
i'd also add height variability. lots of towers. lots of different kinds of towers. lots of different heights of towers. not surprisingly, something like this is close to my ideal: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...6fa33035_h.jpg Skyline from the south by Jonathan Lurie, on Flick |
That's tough.
I know it's a tired, boring comparison, but I think the best example of this is Chicago vs. NY. Chicago (above) is varied, balanced... almost artful. It's large enough to make a big impact, but: NYC is MASSIVE. It's more a "wall" of towers than a place like Chicago (or any other smaller city with a respectable skyline), so it doesn't quite have that "artful" balance. But that giant web of dense urban development massages a part of my brain that I think only weirdos like people on this forum have, ha. I might go size on this one, although even having seen it 1m+ times, I still have a moment of awe one I catch the Chicago skyline at night, early morning or dusk. |
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The best North American example of such a style would probably be Toronto. Toronto presents a pretty meaningful contrast to American-style skylines. |
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Anyway. I think it's a good comparison between North American cities. New York certainly doesn't have the same height discrepancy between towers that Chicago has a lot of, which creates less of a layering effect. A photographic example, although I've noticed it more in person: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....L._SL1500_.jpg |
When I think of aesthetic skylines its Chicago
Nyc is simply massive and impressive in that right, plus its so culturally ubiquitous that its cool to see it in person. (I would guess LA is similar to people back east but I've been to it so many times I dont get that sort of feeling from it) |
For me it's about variability in heights and buildings from different periods.
Toronto has a jumble of highrises but its skyline doesn't visually impress me. Chicago, as mentioned above, has all of these features. NYC does too, but it's also so huge that it's hard for buildings to stand out that aren't really huge. But its scale is what's so impressive. |
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But what does this have to do with the topic? Neither city is known for repetitive elements in the skyline. There are repetitive complexes, like Presidential Towers in Chicago, but they don't dominate the skyline, as one sees in, say, Hong Kong. |
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Although newer developments in sunbelt areas seem to be moving into the 5-10 story apartment block and mixed use office tower mode instead of the pre 2000 garden apartment and vertical office park variety hour |
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It was (and is still stuck there) #3 in North America in the 60/70s tall game (BMO was an early supertall when maintenance workers on the roof raised their hands). The financial core built Mies' masterpiece -TD Centre, Pei's Commerce Court, the real gold glazing of RBC and later the red granite beauty Scotia Plaza. Nothing west coast about the original core. Just harder to see that great stuff now. |
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Or another comparison would be Miami: hundreds and hundreds of non-descript similar looking towers that don't really stand out and all around the same height vs a skyline like Atlanta with fewer towers but more variety. With Miami you are taken aback by the sheer scale of all the towers while with Atlanta you notice the details of the towers themselves. To each his own.
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Skylines, like people have their best side. For me it's all about symmetry and order. I dont like skylines that are only massive and uniform in height. Toronto looking north from the islands will always be more pleasing to me than Manhattan or Vancouver.
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https://newyorkyimby.com/wp-content/...n-1024x683.jpg source: https://newyorkyimby.com/2018/10/che...irca-2022.html the old midtown plateau is currently being annihilated, which is nice...... |
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