A citys Skyline (largest, suburban, Dallas, freeways)
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Does a city's skyline really matter. I mean if a city has all the amenities, rich culture, and a great quality of life who cares how tall the buildings are right? What do all poster on this forum think? I personally don't really care i mean they are just buildings after all. To me there more like a bonus but they do not define a city.
While they are very nice to look at, you are right. It's really like an ego thing, it seems. I have to admit, though, that I have been guilty of the whole bigger and taller=better.
It depends on the city. Skyscrapers can add a huge level of drama and excitement to a city's streetscape. For example, New York and Chicago both have a lot going for them besides tall buildings, but can you imagine either city without their skylines?
A city's vertical horizon is highly important for a number of reasons. It defines the city's core, and gives the place a reputation of having a bustling, productive, successful business enterprise. Highrises also help curb urban/suburban sprawl. Think about all the open land which could be preserved if more skyscrapers were constructed for living AND business purposes. More people could live within walking distance of their workplace, and not be clogging the streets/freeways with their polluting vehicles. Sure would save on the commute times, and relieve stress for that matter.
Besides, if a vertical skyline wasn't important, then all the major U.S. & world cities would look like Bakersfield, California! Who wants that??? Even the city where I live (Phoenix) has been reluctant to build upward until recently. Guess they finally realized that we can't sprawl outward forever!
While they are very nice to look at, you are right. It's really like an ego thing, it seems. I have to admit, though, that I have been guilty of the whole bigger and taller=better.
I agree, I too am responsible for having an ego with Dallas' skyline. It shows the cities wealth, but beside that is useless. It may conserve space for crowded place like Hong Kong and Shanghai. Skyscrapers are a MUST for some cities, but that being said. many Cities that aren't on a little island or cornered against a lake or ocean could probably due without skyscrapers, and even then some. If LA didn't have a skyline, it probably wouldn't be a whole lot different.
A skyline is nice to look at, a source of pride and an Icon for a city, that just about it. They serve a use though. IF you people were to ever go to Shanghai you would know the meaning of skyline. That little cluster of buildings that Seattle, NY, Chicago, and Miami have is nothing...and those cities are considered to have some of the largest skylines. That little Picture of the Shanghai skyline you see when you go to Google is not but a fraction of the skyline. Those are the most impressive buildings, it 'Pu Xi' is where its at, 'Pu Dong' is what you see when you look at google. Pu Xi is littered with skyscrapers, you get sick of it. Its not even a treat to see a nice building (which they're some pretty cool ones). oh god the second you leave the airport 'BOOM' all high rises. Cities that have little to no room to grow need high rises.
Last edited by JMT; 07-13-2012 at 10:16 AM..
Reason: North American cities only
Does it matter? Absolutely. Fair or not, cities are judged by their skylines. And, it kinda makes sense because no two skylines are the same and also because of what skylines represent.
Go type in any random city on Google Images and half of the hits will be of its skyline.
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