What U.S. City has the Best Architecture? (houses, office, victorian)
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For me this one was easy because of the great monuments which are recognized thruout the world. It's kind of hard to mistake the Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, White House, US Capitol and others for anything other than what they are. How many other cities in the US could you put a picture--let alone multiple pictures--of a building in front of someone without a label where they would automatically recognize exactly what it is (assuming you are not a local to the area)...
For me this one was easy because of the great monuments which are recognized thruout the world. It's kind of hard to mistake the Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, White House, US Capitol and others for anything other than what they are. How many other cities in the US could you put a picture--let alone multiple pictures--of a building in front of someone without a label where they would automatically recognize exactly what it is (assuming you are not a local to the area)...
If we were talking about monuments and not architecture I might say D.C.
When I think architecture I think of a concentration of neat looking buildings more then less not an isolated structure so much.
If we were talking about monuments and not architecture I might say D.C.
When I think architecture I think of a concentration of neat looking buildings more then less not an isolated structure so much.
My guess is that an architect designed all of these monuments...so I don't really get the point. How does one begin to compare rowhouses with skyscrapers?
Most of these monuments can be seen in a concentrated area of DC--so I am missing your view on this. How do you compare a Frank Lloyd Wright house to the Sears Tower? How do you compare the brownstones to the Chrysler building--they're not in the same category. I've seen pictures on this thread of the above and I think the focus should be on a particular type of architecture....otherwise it is way too broad.
If we were talking about monuments and not architecture I might say D.C.
When I think architecture I think of a concentration of neat looking buildings more then less not an isolated structure so much.
You have not been to DC Have you? Or if you have you haven't been off the mall have you?
There have already been some good photos posted of Atlanta architecture, so I thought I would post a few of the structures that are noteable according to the American Institute of Architects:
Ten Peachtree Place - 1990, Michael Graves
on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/procrast8/174228044/ - broken link)
Rich's Department Store Building - 1924, Philip Shutze
Atlanta, GA Rich's Department Store on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/army_arch/2545205724/ - broken link)
High Museum Expansion- 2005, Renzo Piano
Piazza on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/paytonc/63811741/ - broken link)
Regenstein's Department Store Building - 1929, Pringle and Smith
http://www.flickr.com/photos/army_arch/2553599190/ (broken link)
The William-Oliver Building - 1930, Pringle and Smith
The William Oliver - Atlanta, Georgia - June, 2006 - 003a on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/artefaqscorporation/3123361290/ - broken link)
One Atlantic Center - 1987, Johnson/Burgee
One Atlantic Center - Atlanta, Georgia - June, 2006 - 004a on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/artefaqscorporation/3123348318/ - broken link)
The Fox Theater - 1929, Marye, Alger and Vinour
The Fabulous Fox - Atlanta_6330 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/emeryjl/2382614715/ - broken link)
Fox Theatre from the south on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/procrast8/207777484/ - broken link)
The Campanile - 1987, Thompson, Ventulett, and Stainback
The Campanile - Atlanta, Georgia - June, 2006 - 002a on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/artefaqscorporation/3122534897/ - broken link)
Church of the Sacred Heart - 1897, Walter T. Downing
Atlanta, GA Sacred Heart Church on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/army_arch/2544374971/ - broken link)
Atlanta Women's Club (Wimbish Mansion) - 1898, Walter T. Downing
Atlanta Women's Club - Atlanta, Georgia - June, 2006 - 002a on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/artefaqscorporation/3122498779/ - broken link)
Equitable Building - 1968, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
Equitable Building - Atlanta, Georgia - June, 2006 -002a on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/artefaqscorporation/3123334804/in/photostream/ - broken link)
Atlanta City Hall - 1930, G. Lloyd Preacher
Atlanta City Hall - Atlanta, Georgia - June, 2006 -002a on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/artefaqscorporation/3123321632/ - broken link)
Fulton County Library, Main Branch - 1969, Marcel Breuer
on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bryan/381317516/ - broken link)
A few more that have been recognized by the Atlanta Urban Design Commission:
The Ponce - 1913, William Stoddart
00185.jpg on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zackw/244246718/ - broken link)
Rhodes Hall - 1902, Willis F. Denny II
Rhodes Hall, IMG09743x2 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/xinmincat/116643966/ - broken link)
Georgian Terrace Hotel - 1910, W.L. Stoddart
Georgian Terrace_6372 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/emeryjl/2383453764/ - broken link)
Candler Building - 1906, George Murphy....Rhodes-Haverty Building - 1929, Pringle and Smith
Candler Building on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/negfoto/2294600403/ - broken link)
There should be some great architecture in this city...
Atlanta Gift Mart
Building 2 - America's Mart Atlanta - Atlanta, Georgia - June, 2006 - 002a on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/artefaqscorporation/3123326790/ - broken link)
Hurt Plaza Fountain
Atlanta Municipal Auditorium, 1945 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sherwoodh/3186360755/ - broken link)
The first picture of old Boston looks like it could be a old European city - if you had said it was I would have believed you.
The second picture of the elevatored looks like old Brooklyn or Chicago.
Pictures three to seven look like they might be old New York. In addition the sixth picture (the old house that had seen better days) could be any city in England.
Although you might disagee with me - I believe Boston was better before it started building modern skyscrappers. Its like they decide to tear down alot of their older buildings but then went only halfway and built a relatively small skyline. Its a decent skyline but still not what expect for such a quality city.
TomDot- Fantastic pics. Are they from the Mediaval Boston website? It's a shame that much of that doesn't exist anymore (Haymarket, Scollay Square, the entire West End, etc). That said, we're lucky to have what we do have still. I love looking at the old aerial and seeing the stuff that does exist still. I can't believe we have our current City Hall Plaza where Scollay used to be... it's a shame we lost that urbanity. Boston gets a nod in my book as one of the better architectural cities in the U.S.
While I think many highrises in Boston are eyesores and blights (1 Beacon... the Pru has grown on me), others are stunning contrasts and add to the character of the city. The old and new Hancock Towers, the courthouse on Post Office Square, the Verizon Building on Post Office Square, Exchange Place all add to the character of the city. There are some excellent proposals for new towers at the Government Center Garage site, an addition over Neiman Marcus at Copley Place, Russia Wharf, One Franklin (Filene's once back on track), etc that will be great once complete. In short, the highrises don't hurt the original cityscape of Boston, the land clearing and careless demolitions really do the damage that you see. Exchange Place, Russia Wharf and One Franklin preserve the original historic building while adding a highrise on top.
DeaconJ- I enjoy Atlanta very much. I think it's a beautiful city. However, many (but not all of) your pictures are poor architectural representations. Many PoMo skyscrapers from the 80s and 90s have become blights in Atlanta and other cities in the U.S. (including Boston). Other shots are of typical suburban style buildings found anywhere! I think Atlanta has some great architecture... both highrise and low, but I don't think those photos do it justice.
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