Dr Galal Abada

 Consultant and Educator DCOMMM-ASU

Title of presentation : City Skyline: Image, Imagineering and Imagination

City's  skyline m ark s  unique  characters tic s  of  a city's  lands c ape shaped by planning controls, urban conditions, building design, exceptional or iconic architecture, and environmental concerns. The cities of Paris, New York, Sydney, Shanghai, and Berlin are among major metropolitan cities in the world with uniquely identifiable skylines. These cities have varying approaches towards their skylines. Some intentionally craft it, others have relied on, or accepted iconic architecture, yet others have let their skylines be determined indirectly as outcomes of urban policies and codes. It is argued that few Gulf cities actively pursue a planned skyline. While most of Gulf cities lie into the last category, choosing to allow its urban form to be an outcome of specific policy objectives. Other cities either capitalize a few locations using imagineered figures or fantasy structures or through bold architectural endeavours that produce imaginative memorable outcomes.   This paper argues that the current concerns and activities in

 (re)creating a distinctive visual identity for Gulf cities denote the emergence of main three trends in building c it y' s  skyline: the picturesque (image), imagineered and imaginative skylines. These trends are manifested in the competitiveness to significantly alter the Gulf  city's  current skylin e f or m ore distinctivear chtecture and memorable images. City's 

 skyline and identity are combined because each one often derives from, or influences the other.   T he impacts  of  current entitlements  on the Gulf  city's  skyline have however, not been adequately explored. Doing so may offer a chance to make strategic adjustments to enhance existing opportunities in the Gulf city skyline and image. What role should imaginative city

design and architecture play in helping define its larger identity? Are there some unique opportunities that could or should be exploited, or should its skyline continue to be an outcome of broader desired spatial relationships or picturesque forms? More important, are there any standards to form judgment in the assessment of a successful city skyline? What criteria or

factors are used to value a c ity' s  skyline? T his  paper attempts  to respond  to these questions and to provide some basis for this discussion. Through the examination and the critical review

of selected case studies and projects, the paper will investigate and explore the varied trends  of  Gulf  city's  skyline in term s  of  conceptual approaches, characteristics, contents, policies and implications.