any visual clues to guide them. Even motorists find
themselves bewildered by a series of urban roads that
sweep between near-identical buildings and across
roundabouts, each detailed in the same fashion as the
one before. Tall buildings help us find our way around as
long as each stands out from its neighbours. This is
another reason why we should be cultivating architectural
distinctiveness, not conformity, in tall buildings, and
placing these ‘unique’ buildings at key points in the city.
As in much townscape analysis, the sketchbook is the
best vehicle for cultivating an appreciation of the issues
outlined above. The sketch does not have to be too literal,
but it should seek to understand the language of the city.
As towns are very complicated subjects to draw, one
must be selective and edit out the unnecessary detail. If a
drawing focuses upon skyline, then other elements in the
view can be played down. And if a skyline feature is
treated as an icon of the city (for example, Big Ben in
London or the Eiffel Tower in Paris), then celebrate its
presence with a bold rendition of it. There is a hierarchy in
the skyline of most cities: representing the contrast
between a central dominant structure and the supporting
towers nearby can produce a sketch that is not only
instructive but dramatic.13.9
The church spire not only
landmarks the Bastide town
of Eymet, but provides a local
reference point from the market
square. The offset side street is
terminated by the church.Landmarks, skyline and city image 113