Favorite Skylines

[David]

While driving back from the keys this weekend I opted to drive straight into Miami instead of taking the turnpike just to see the skyline.

It's been a while since I've passed through and their skyline surprised me with how much it's expanded over the past decade.

Anyway, it made think about all of the different skylines i've seen/would like to see and which ones I like the most.  If I had to compile a top 5 list of skylines it would go something like this:

1. Hong Kong



I've never been to Hong Kong but that skyline has always fascinated me. At night it looks so....high tech!

2. Seattle

 

I flew out to see a friend just to take pictures of Seattle's skyline (and check out the city in general) Mt. Rainer and the surrounding terrain along with the space needle gives it such a unique look.

3. Pittsburgh



Another city I drove to just to check out, it's like a mini-Manhattan. The yellow steel bridges stand out to me. It never quite caught me in pictures but it stayed with me after seeing it in person

4. Jacksonville


I've always liked ours. It's not that big, but the Acosta Bridge, FEC railroad and former Independent Life building have always drawn my attention. A few people in the Keys said they liked the drive up 95 and seeing the Jax skyline pop up over the horizon and how pretty it was. There's not much to look at on 95 between Miami and here.

5. New York

This would be # 1 for me but it's so massive you can't really take it in from a single perspective.

[Adam W]

I think North America has a lot of great skylines - San Francisco springs to mind as another one. Chicago is nice as well. Hell, Detroit's isn't even half bad, though it's a bit small. A number of Canadian cities have nice ones, too: Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal are pretty impressive.

I think North America and Asia pretty much have lock on the impressive skylines.

Aside from that, I think Rio de Janeiro has a really nice one as well, especially when you factor in the natural features (like Sugarloaf Mountain).

[David]

I think North America has a lot of great skylines - San Francisco springs to mind as another one. Chicago is nice as well. Hell, Detroit's isn't even half bad, though it's a bit small. A number of Canadian cities have nice ones, too: Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal are pretty impressive.

I think North America and Asia pretty much have lock on the impressive skylines.

Aside from that, I think Rio de Janeiro has a really nice one as well, especially when you factor in the natural features (like Sugarloaf Mountain).

Yeah i'm really partial to the natural features so rivers and mountains will always win me over.

It's pretty hard to even rank skylines, they all have different features that appeal to different people, but I always lean towards mixed architecture, industrial structures mixed in with early to mid 20th century buildings and a splash of new and cutting edge designs. 

Jax is way past due for something like that. Something new and sharp.

[Jason]

The US has some of the best in the world but you have to include our bretheren down under.  Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and Adelaide all have fantastic coastal skylines. 

[Keith-N-Jax]

Melbourne for sure, and Singapore. Miami as well.

[David]

The US has some of the best in the world but you have to include our bretheren down under.  Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and Adelaide all have fantastic coastal skylines. 

Nice! I've never thought to look up their skylines. I need to start collecting those panoramic pictures of various skylines. I could see a few of those hanging up in my "mancave"

Miami's skyline looked impressive but it was hard to take it all in @ 80 mph while accidently running the sunpass toll. I look forward to returning there soon and snapping a few pictures.

[Jason]

And the one skyline that trumps them all..... DUBAI!!


With the new world's tallest Burj Kahlifa, there is no skyline in the world like it.  And its still growing ike crazy!












This last image shows the current skyline (2011) on the top and the bottom shows skyline at build-out
(given all pending proposals and projects under construction)

[BridgeTroll]

Hong Kong is spectacular... my personal fave! 

[JFman00]

Chicago will always be my winner. 130 years of skyscraper architecture.

[Ocklawaha]

Panama City, Panama, is nothing to sneeze at either.




Santiago, Chile, is great provided you have your jacket zipped up! A couple of newer towers soar over these buildings now.




Cartagena, Colombia, is a beautiful mix of St. Augustine on steroids and ultra modern.




Somebody mentioned New York being too big to take it in?  I'm here to say Sao Paulo will unscrew your head!




Sao Paulo also get's my gold star for 'Things you can do with string and colored lights.




Rio is stunning at night, but impossible to focus on in daylight considering what's on the beach.




Manaus still has the look of a colonial city but the waterfront is too clustered to appreciate it, but boy do they have a bridge.