The skyline ranking

[Quiet Storm]

Take a look at this site.

This listing ranks cities by the visual impact of their skylines. It is drawn entirely from statistics in this website's database, and reflects only completed high-rise buildings as defined by the Emporis Data Committee (EDC). This calculation does not include TV towers, masts, bridges, or other structures.

1. Hong Kong
2. New York City
3. Seoul
4. Chicago
5. Singapore

 

[Gollnick]

The place to look for this is in movies. What cities can a director establish simply by a shot of their skyline? If you want the audience to know instantly that your film is in San Francisco, a glimps of the Trans America building is all that it takes. Seattle? A shot of the Space Needle says, "We're in Seattle." New York? Come in from the Harbor, the Statue of Liberety, the skyline in the distance... Want to set your film in Paris? All it takes is a quick shot of the Tower and you're there. Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney can all be instantly established by their skylines.

And, of course, there's Las Vegas. Of course, depending on how and where you shoot, Vegas can easily be mistaken for Paris, New York, or Venice.

 

[stjames]

Remove the bridges and San Francisco ranks at 32, I'm sure it would be higher if they were included. New York would be #1 if bridges were a factor as well.

 

[Watchful]

I used the Emporis website for all sorts of things, business-related.

The problem with this list is that it's based on the quantity of tall buildings, and not on any esthetic appeal.

That's why Sydney doesn't seem to be on the list, and Seoul is so high up on the list. Seoul? Tall buildings, yes, but not necessarily the most attractive skyline. I'm sure Seoul-philes love their city, but it shouldn't rank higher than Sydney for skyline appeal.

In the States, I'd suggest (in no order, except maybe East to West...

New York
Atlanta
Pittsburgh
Chicago (of course!)
Phoenix (factoring in how the skyline merges w/the mountains)
San Francisco
Seattle

...for immediately recognizable, yet very attractive skylines. Las Vegas... well, you recognize it right away, but...