http://www.panoramio.com/photos/original/1782281.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photos/original/1782281.jpg

with pierre laclede, our founder and the controversial city commissioned art pieces "box window air conditioning."

:previous:

St. Louis City Hall
http://api.ning.com/files/KmiIkRNFZk...isCityHall.jpg

http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/...n/cityhal2.jpg
stlouismissouri.org

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Another Los Angeles city hall perhaps worth mentioning is the Van Nuys city hall...its much smaller and more humble, but today it is used rather like a san fernando valley branch of city hall.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/...dd01de7104.jpg
From Dogwelder on Flickr

as much as i want to not like this,
that's a really cool looking building

...i will say, however, in person, the building doesn't at all have the same feel as that picture would suggest

Tempe, Arizona's city hall isn't as beautiful as some in this thread, but it is neat:

http://www.waltlockley.com/tempecityhall/01.jpg

the inverted pyramid shades a below grade courtyard and garden.

http://www.waltlockley.com/tempecityhall/02.jpg

http://www.waltlockley.com/tempecityhall/04.jpg

http://www.waltlockley.com/tempecityhall/07.jpg

http://www.waltlockley.com/tempecityhall/08.jpg

photos from Walt Lockley.com, a terrific site about Valley architecture.

well, have you ever been to st. louis and this building? that picture makes it look like a building you'd see in the middle of berlin or something like that... but in person, it is rather detached from the street and is semi isolated like an island in the middle of the block. that's all i meant...

w00t w00t! I really like tempe's city hall! :D

The old New Orleans city hall was the previously posted Gallier Hall from the 1850s.
The above city hall is a product of the 1950s, and it is pretty bad...

The city has no money to build another really...but there is talk or moving city government across the street to the Dominion Tower. Nothing, of course, will happen until Nagin leaves office in oh...1.5 yrs

San Diego City Hall
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2183/...6121f5.jpg?v=0
l.yimg.com

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3121/...1e844c7a_b.jpg
national historic register

http://lh6.ggpht.com/LittleItalyInn/...0/IMG_0559.JPG
LittleItalyInn

City Hall to the right
http://lh5.ggpht.com/dpanian/SISOrCs...0/IMG_0210.JPG
Picasaweb.google.com - David's public gallery
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Bet you never thought of it...

Albany NY:

Richardson designed--already been a few of his (or at least the style he invented) posted here. But I've always been fond of this building, elegant and graceful.

http://www.planetnikon.com/forums/bl...1191326910.jpg

Looks a little dreary in that photo, oh well. More info here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albany_City_Hall

and here:

http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/a...banyrich2.html

SLC, Milwaukee, Pasadena, Beverly Hills are all really good.

Here is DC's. Unforch it's a terrible picture (I don't have a good one)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Wilsonbldg.JPG

All decked-out for the holidays
http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.u...20Building.jpg

Here is Baltimore's, which though I am a fan of traditional architecture admit is awkward (the dome doesn't match the flanks)
http://beyonddc.com/images/photos/ba...l02-ravens.jpg

Not nominating for beauty, but just to show off, here is Arlington, VA's:
http://www.virginiareckless.com/reso...se$7EPlaza.jpg

For smaller cities, here is Fairfax, VA's
http://beyonddc.com/images/photos/va...cityhall01.jpg

Modernist geometric sculpturalism is anything but original. If traditional architecture is "throwing together columns and crap" then geometric sculpturalism is "throwing together shapes randomly". That type of modernism is an absolute abortion of good design, and hasn't qualified as original in at least 50 years.

Just one more bit of love for Milwaukee's city hall, back when it first acheived its 'world's tallest' status:

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/8...00158xlqq7.jpg


I'd say try 70.

For the modernist: Sarasota City Hall 1966
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2311/...7811ffd2_o.jpg
src: http://www.modmidmod.com/category/florida/

I forgot all about Van Nuys...it's a gem

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...61028LA336.jpg

wait... are you saying (and the most of you too) that brutalism pre-dates its own existance, suggesting that brutalism was nothing more than an exhausted bauhaus remnant: a recycled reuse of obsolete ideas that lacked any amount of creativity and nothing more than talentless assemblage of shapes and materials?

...is that the official stance on brutalism in here?

Azusa, CA
 

Hello,
Since I don't want small towns to be forgotten here is another California city hall from the 1920's- Azusa California :)

http://lh3.ggpht.com/danielm5486/SO1...zusa%20020.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/danielm5486/SO1...zusa%20021.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/danielm5486/SO1...zusa%20026.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/danielm5486/SO1...zusa%20028.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/danielm5486/SO1...0/DSCF0948.JPG

[all pictures by me]

I think a more succinct way to phrase it would be to say that parking decks have never been lovely -- not even when you add windows and call them a City Hall.

In the case of Boston City Hall, I would say yes. Lots of Kahn/Aalto projects are quite original, and trust me, I'm a HUGE fan of brutalism but the examples you posted or referenced (particularly the Aalto) were subpar representations of that style. I am a fan of Boston City Hall, but not the prarie like open space and swath demolition that accompanied its construction. I also am a bit of a fan of the Dallas city hall but again I feel it is a very straightforward, dare I say 'corporate' looking building with a gimmick to the front. Neither are particularly original in their fields, and in general I feel that brutalism is a style that does not typically adapt well to civic monuments (Kahn's Bangladesh Parliament House is the exception).

Syracuse's City Hall

http://www.pbase.com/image/30069006.jpg

oh... ok, i wasn't aware that alvar aalto was a brutalist... huh... :shrug:

I think California probably has the most beautiful city halls. Those domed beauties of the past can't be beat.

Anyway, I need to take some newer pics of it, but Austin's city hall is just 4 years old. It was designed by Antoine Predock. This is the 5th building to house Austin's city hall.

These pics are 4 year old scanned film pics, so please excuse the quality!


http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...oris439417.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...oris439404.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...is439412-1.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...oris439423.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...oris439420.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...oris439419.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...oris437978.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...oris439444.jpg

See more here:
http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu?id=a...-austin-tx-usa

So all you have to say in response is a snotty comment concerning my miscategorization of an architect of whose work you displayed an uninteresting example of? Well heaven forbid I might make a mental slip up as to image Tadao Ando when I think of Alvar Aalto. Yeesh.

Just in case anyone didn't know Azusa is a suburb in the Los Angeles metro. I actually forgot about this one. I should be ashame since I lived in Azusa for a 1 1/2 years back in the 90's. I spent a lot of time in the downtown area at the local library.

Kevin, I think I'm in love. That is one very attractive building IMO. I especially like the stone they used. Is that a native stone found in the area? Also, the lines and contrasting materials are superb! Absolutely warm, embracing, and beautiful, yet also comtemporary.
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Haven't had the chance of visiting Austin's City Hall but it does look pretty good. Seems to go with all the new buildings that have been built. Here are some more pics of Dallas City Hall.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3194/...91e162.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/...7d41c56a_o.jpg
dallasarchitecture.info
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3014/...bb01c5.jpg?v=0
dextrovert.com
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/164/3...55920e.jpg?v=0
dallasarchitecture.info

Boca Raton, Florida

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1087/...5ab9a66057.jpg
Steven M.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1228/...b18f5e.jpg?v=0
Steven M.

http://www.dkimages.com/discover/pre...1/90049804.JPG
dkimages.com
.

I know im a homer but i love NYC's City Hall. I think its classy inside and out
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z...a/DSC04758.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z...DSC02459-1.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z...DSC02484-1.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z...a/DSC02467.jpg

Its a super small city hall, especially for the size of NYC. But we have the beautiful municipal building a block north for more space.
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z...a/DSC04751.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z...a/DSC07013.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...IMG_0718-1.jpg

From the recent Phillies Parade.

Our City Hall was the epicenter with most of the crowds. (est @750,000-1,000,000)

A note, Philadelphia City Hall is really at the center of Philadelphia.

http://www.mapsofpa.com/articlepics/art3005.jpg

(City Hall is now in the center "square")

^^hiiiiiyooooooo big ups philly

First thing I think when I look at the New York City Hall is "Wow, that must fit only the Mayor and his staff." Though, I do like the design allot, I immediately assumed that there must be allot of annex space taken up in surrounding buildings. I was pleased to see pics of the NYC Municipal building and how beautiful it is. Definately not just another 60's piece of grunge.

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z...a/DSC07013.jpg

.

The city government has become more and more dispersed over the years. The building on the right in the photo above used to be the Tweed Courthouse (a fun story in itself) but is now the main offices of the Department of Education.

The city, county state and federal government in New York has its own neighbourhood in Manhattan, with several skyscrapers of equal or greater size as the Municipal Building, and lots of big neoclassical courthouses.

I have mixed feelings about NY's municipal building skyscraper. I'll take it over any of these modernist buildings, but the proportions are bad compared to better traditional buildings.

Beaux Arts is just really hard to pull off in skyscraper form. It's more suited to horizontal buildings than vertical ones.

Portland, Maine

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2129/...g?v=1212038453

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3229/...31e1a673_b.jpg
pics by Nono Modugno http://flickr.com/photos/mozzarellah...92961/sizes/l/

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Capetown, South Africa

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3089/...25620bdc_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3067/...5b607faf_o.jpg
pics by mooi kiekies http://flickr.com/photos/mooi_kiekies/2575457270/

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Mexico City

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/180/4...17cd5df7_b.jpg
by Esparta http://flickr.com/photos/esparta/404023488/sizes/l/

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CAPE TOWN!!!!! :-( :-( oh i miss it

If only Stanford White had lived a little longer - I would have loved to see what his contribution would have been.

Salt Lake City


This is the Salt Lake City Hall as viewed from an alley off of Exchange Place in Downtown Salt Lake City, Utah - Pic by local forumer, Scaperdude801

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/...7c5acbaa_b.jpg

Salt Lake's City Hall sits in the center of a beautiful ten acre park named Washington Square. Following pics by new sox http://flickr.com/photos/new_sox/2842485918/
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3181/...ae55ba20_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3230/...24361769_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/171/4...2db6eea4_b.jpg
this pic by KellyB.

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You are aware of the inconsistency between both of these arguments, right Adrian? I'm not sure if you've ever been to Boston but the plaza around its city hall is one of the most maligned public spaces in the country: not only is it perpetually under-utilized (it is much too large), it totally destroyed Scollay Square, a rich, vibrant quarter of the city with character to spare. "Government Center" is now little more than a metaphor for the ill effects of governmental paternalism. Not only that, the building itself is dimly lit, drafty, inaccessible and difficult to navigate, hardly a paragon of democratic values and transparency.

It's funny because this

sums it up perfectly.

Anyway, I nominate Wasilla.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/129/3...e3fb99541f.jpg

Wasilla is a city? Does that include the Moose of the greater conurbation of Wasilla?

Calgary's City Halls
 

Can't compete with a lot of the buildings in this thread. My vote is for Salt Lake City and Philly. Love Vancouver's Art Deco piece also. Thought I'd add some more Canadian content:

3rd City Hall historically:
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k1...tyHall_old.jpg

3rd City Hall today:
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k1...CityHall_2.jpg
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k1...CityHall_1.jpg


Current City Hall:
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k1...ewCItyHall.jpg
http://www.galen-frysinger.us/canada/calgary08.jpg
(http://www.galen-frysinger.us/canada/calgary08.jpg)

You can see the old City Hall in the corner of the last photo, next to the new City Hall

City Hall - Helena Montana

http://www.dslrphotos.com/travel/hel.../city-hall.jpg
by dslrphotos.com http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%3Den%26sa%3DG

http://movetomontana.us/helenaPhotoG...gmtm%20042.jpg
movetomontana.us http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%3Den%26sa%3DG

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Funny you should say that. Toronto has what looks like the exact same building as Vancouver's City Hall. It is just an office building. I can't remember the name of it for the life of me. On place to look out for is Surrey, they are looking to develop a new city hall tower, so hopefully it will be interesting.

Calgary's current city hall is actually pretty interesting. I love the inclusion of an ice rink. :tup:

Victoria BC's City Hall

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/98/26...01fda563_b.jpg
by Bob 2006

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Actually, the rink is across the street and is part of Olympic Plaza, not city hall. It was where all the medal ceremonies were during the '88 Winter Olympics.

-

After going through this thread carefully, I must say that Mexico City seemed to stand out from the rest. Beautiful.