9. City Identity- Comparison

Urban Identity by City Top-Level Domains

By Dirk Krischenowski

This document is intended to be a starting point for a discussion on upcoming city Top-Level Domain Names (city TLDs) such as .berlin, .nyc, or .london. It reflects considerations about the impact of city TLDs on the city society, the individuals in the city, the regional and global environment, and the Internet at large... more

Krischenowski, Dirk, January 2006, ‘Urban identities by city top level domains’, CircleID Internet infrastructure, Blogs.<http://www.circleid.com/posts/urban_identity_by_city_top_level_domains>, [Accessed 7 October 2010].

What is “cities identity”? Every city has an identity including every individual living being. Who exactly are you and how does one actually present one’s identity (including cities)? According to Krischenowski (2006) article, he speaks how the “urban millennium” has begun and the large population growth in every city around the world.  He also emphasizes the ‘terms like metrolization, urban primacy, urban phenomenon, swarm intelligence, self-assembly and community building has been invented to describe how cities breathe and influence their environment.’ With so many upcoming cities, there has been a must to compete and promote city’s own and individual identity. In this article, he also states that ‘city image and urban identity have become key issues of mayors, city managers and urban planners. It has become essential to emotionally bind local residents and businesses to a city (civic pride), and to attract outside interest and invest in the city. Tools used to market the city to citizens and abroad are branding, websites, sporting, cultural events and institutions, landmark buildings and projects, architecture and public space.’    

I have included 2 cities examples on marketing the city with “architecture and public space”.

KLCC Tower, Color Marker Rendered: by Corinth A. Ooi

Petronas Twin Tower:

-          Based in Kuala Lumpur and was pronounce as one of the tallest buildings from 1998 to 2004. Designed by Argentine architects César Pelli & Associates (USA) the Petronas Towers were completed in 1998. Soaring at 452 meters sky high, the 88-floor towers are constructed largely of reinforced concrete, with steel and glass facade designed to resemble the motifs found in Islamic art, a reflection of Malaysia's Muslim religion. It is proudly recognize as an identity of Malaysia and a national pride to the Malaysians.

Sydney Opera House, Rough Pencil Sketched: by Corinth A. Ooi

Opera House:

-          Located at Sydney harbor, constructed and build by Danish architect Jørn Utzon. It is a masterpiece of late modern architecture and admired by millions internationally. Under urbanism sculpture, it represents significant strands of creativity, both in architectural and structural design. It has made a reputation as Sydney and Australian icon and identity. 

There are many more examples, like ‘Statue of Liberty’ in New York and the ‘Eiffel tower’ in Paris. So which architecture building signifies Melbourne? Is it Federation Square or the Eureka Sky deck?  Maybe the both of it.