The Next Famous US Skyline

[-Corey-]

That's just your own opinion, as for Seattle, I would say that the only distinctive landmark there is the Space Needle, and if it wasn't for that tower, no one would know that it's Seattle. Now tell me, that this pic could be any city.. (except for Honolulu). I think Miami skyline is very unique.

[Jennifat]

Originally Posted by -Corey-

Now tell me, that this pic could be any city.. (except for Honolulu). I think Miami skyline is very unique.

Well sure, it's obviously a coastal city. But this type of skyline is not unique in the least. It could look like...

Gold Coast, Queensland


Chicago, Illinois
image hosted on flickr


Dubai, UAE


Fortaleza, Brazil


Need I continue?

[mhays]

Exactly.

Regarding Seattle, I agree that the Space Needle is the only iconic buidling.

[bennyboo]

columbia center is fairly good of a tower. IT DID WIN ITS RESPECTED CUP IN THE VOTINGS.

[spencer114]

So Chicago looks like anywhere USA too. If we are talking worldwide, no North American skylines are that distinctive (unless geographic location is thrown in). Cropped photos of NYC, Chicago, LA etc can pass for cities in China, Korea, Brazil...

Miami does look a bit like Panama City, maybe Honolulu and beach towns in Australia but Americans are more likely to see those skylines and think that they are Miami than the other way around.

I don't find the beachfront photos of Miami interesting or distinctive at all, but shots of downtown don't look like other cities in North America (thanks to the geography and building building style-which may be common worldwide but isn't seen on such a large scale in other cities here). Thanks to Gloria Estefan and video dance clubs in the early 90's, that signature building screams Miami, at least to Gen Xers.

[Jasonhouse]

Miami Vice also went a long way with cementing Miami's architectural image with that generation. There were like 2 minutes of nothing but skyline shots during the show's intro.

[Hia-leah JDM]

The Miami Tower is pretty recognizable, but it's not really iconic.

This is probably the most recognizable shot of the skyline.



But the shot of Ocean Drive is much more recognizable. It's more than that, it's iconic. It's known around the world and identifiable with America like the Golden Gate Bridge and the Empire State Building.

[-Corey-]

I forgot that one too :P

Originally Posted by Jennifat

Well sure, it's obviously a coastal city. But this type of skyline is not unique in the least. It could look like...

Gold Coast, Queensland


Chicago, Illinois
image hosted on flickr


Dubai, UAE


Fortaleza, Brazil


Need I continue?

Weren't we talking about the US Only?? O.o that's why i never mentioned any of those cities.

[TVN]

Hello from Europe..

I think Miami will build the next highrise buildings that we over here, will connect with a city. Because Miami is allready a wellknown city but with out a famous skyscraber.

[Mudhen419]

No one has mentioned Cincy with their new Great American Tower at Queen City Square! I dont know how to post pics but someone should get a pic on here of it.. Its a pretty cool looking building and definitely an upgrade for the city and the state as well

[Brizer]

From architecture&design december 2007

Cincinnati: Queen City Square tower.

[LCIII]

Seattle's skyline is already recognized the world over...

[Seattlelife]

I agree with LCIII. Seattle's is already recognizable, as is San Francisco. This is due to physical geography and landmarks as much as anything. Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Boston might have more buildings but they don't have the physical geography along with the tight collection of towers that Seattle and San Francisco have, not to mention landmarks.

I think the next well known skyline is Miami's. That city's highrise development is unbelievable. Add to that the hot weather, location to the beaches, and all the pop culture taking place there (movies etc) and Miami is the next well known skyline!

[minneapolis-uptown]

why is Minneapolis and ST Paul one option? they have 2 different downtowns with 2 different skylines!

[Avian001]

Originally Posted by LCIII

Seattle's skyline is already recognized the world over...

It's recognized only when the Space Needle is included. Otherwise it's not much different than a hundred other cities across the globe that are of similar size. Although the Columbia Center really is beautiful. Truly beautiful! However that is the only Seattle skyscraper that is truly distinctive. And perhaps that's good enough to win a spot for many people. The downside is that many other Seattle skyscrapers are dreadful PoMo or just thoughtless boxes.

[WeimieLvr]

Skylines that are recognizable to one person may not be the same to other people. If you live in a particular region of the U.S. then you have a decent chance of recognizing larger cities in that region...or if you've traveled to particular cities then you might recognize those as well. Those of us who love skylines and skyscrapers would tend to recognize most of the major cities, but the average person doesn't recognize much more than his or her home city.

[LCIII]

Originally Posted by Seattlelife

I agree with LCIII. Seattle's is already recognizable, as is San Francisco. This is due to physical geography and landmarks as much as anything. Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Boston might have more buildings but they don't have the physical geography along with the tight collection of towers that Seattle and San Francisco have, not to mention landmarks.

I think the next well known skyline is Miami's. That city's highrise development is unbelievable. Add to that the hot weather, location to the beaches, and all the pop culture taking place there (movies etc) and Miami is the next well known skyline!

THIS

[LCIII]

Originally Posted by Avian001

It's recognized only when the Space Needle is included. Otherwise it's not much different than a hundred other cities across the globe that are of similar size. Although the Columbia Center really is beautiful. Truly beautiful! However that is the only Seattle skyscraper that is truly distinctive. And perhaps that's good enough to win a spot for many people. The downside is that many other Seattle skyscrapers are dreadful PoMo or just thoughtless boxes.

You can play the same game with SO MANY cities around the world. No skyline is made up entirely of distinctive signature towers. Obviously some have more than others but absolutely for a city of it's size Seattle fights well above it's weight class in terms of recognizability. And you can't handicap that. There's a reason so many movies and tv shows take place here. Remove Chicagos couple signature towers and how many average Americans will know it's Chicago and not New York?

[QuantumX]

Originally Posted by -Corey-

That's just your own opinion, as for Seattle, I would say that the only distinctive landmark there is the Space Needle, and if it wasn't for that tower, no one would know that it's Seattle. Now tell me, that this pic could be any city.. (except for Honolulu). I think Miami skyline is very unique.

This isn't the Miami skyline though! This is a piece of the Miami Beach skyine.


This is the Miami skyline! You see it in a lot of commercials these days.

image hosted on flickr

DSC_0920 by QuantumX, on Flickr

[WeimieLvr]

Originally Posted by LCIII

You can play the same game with SO MANY cities around the world. No skyline is made up entirely of distinctive signature towers. Obviously some have more than others but absolutely for a city of it's size Seattle fights well above it's weight class in terms of recognizability. And you can't handicap that. There's a reason so many movies and tv shows take place here. Remove Chicagos couple signature towers and how many average Americans will know it's Chicago and not New York?

I'm not sure the average American would recognize either WITH the signature towers included. From my experience, more people are not able to recognize even the most famous cities. It always surprises me when someone doesn't know NYC or Chicago immediately.